Delhi Capitals Eye a Fresh Start
Delhi Capitals (DC) are gearing up for a fresh start in IPL 2025 after parting ways with their captain Rishabh Pant. With a significant auction purse of Rs 73 crore and two RTM cards, DC is set to make big moves. Spin maestros Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, along with South African Tristan Stubbs and rising star Abishek Porel, form the young core that DC retained.
New Leadership and Strategy
DC’s new think tank includes head coach Hemang Badani and director of cricket Venugopal Rao, with former pacer Munaf Patel joining the operations team. Their mission is clear: lift DC out of their playoff drought and aim for their first IPL title.
The Shreyas Iyer Factor
With Rishabh Pant gone, DC needs a strong Indian captain. Shreyas Iyer, who led Kolkata Knight Riders to IPL glory in 2024, emerges as a prime candidate. Iyer has a stellar track record with Delhi Daredevils, making over 400 runs in multiple seasons and earning the IPL Emerging Player award in 2015. His experience and leadership make him a compelling choice to steer DC toward success.
Auction Strategy
DC might prioritize bringing back Iyer, who understands the franchise’s culture. If not, Axar Patel, who has performed well in the past three seasons, could be a strong captaincy option. This strategic decision could free up budget for other impactful Indian batters.
Building a Strong Batting Core
DC needs dependable and dynamic batters to strengthen their lineup. Players like Phil Salt, known for explosive starts, and Venkatesh Iyer, a reliable middle-order batter, could be key targets. Ashutosh Sharma and Nehal Wadhera are other strong contenders to bolster DC’s batting core.
Filling the All-Rounder Slot
DC lacked a reliable overseas all-rounder in IPL 2024. Targeting players like Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai and England’s Jacob Bethell could fill this void. Both offer a blend of power-hitting and versatile bowling, adding depth and balance to DC’s lineup.
