Last year’s finalists are aiming to go a step further and finally clinch their maiden Premier League trophy this year. The Capitals are heading into the UAE leg of the IPL 2021 as one of the much better placed franchises in the competition.
Delhi Capitals stand right at the top of the points table for IPL 2021 after winning six and losing only two matches during the Indian leg of the competition. Their win-loss record in IPL 2021 is better than second and third-placed Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore, and with a better net run-rate (+0.547).
As a tribute to the positive dressing room atmosphere they’ve created and their sheer depth and ability, DC had a seamless captaincy change ahead of IPL 2021.
Young wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant led the Delhi-based franchise in the absence of regular captain and middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer, who picked up a shoulder injury in March. While Pant did look slightly nervous and anxious at the start of his stint, he settled down a lot better by the halfway mark.
But with Iyer returning to the camp after his prolonged injury absence, it was expected that he would be reinstated to the captaincy. Indications are, however, that Pant is set to maintain his position at the helm of affairs.
If reports are to be believed, the DC camp is not willing to take a chance with Iyer, who hasn’t played any cricket since March. So, though the right-hander is back and sweating it out in preparations, the DC team management and ownership group feel it would be wise to continue with Pant. At least for this year.
Just like their captain, DC have also retained their core group for the UAE leg of IPL 2021, with no squad changes or replacements announced by the franchise yet – which makes them unique from some of the other teams who have had to rope in last-minute replacements because of different reasons.
Prediction
If there is one franchise that will be pleased to return to UAE for another IPL campaign, it would be Delhi. DC have happy memories of playing in the Middle East last year when they reached their first-ever final.
Under Iyer’s leadership, the Capitals finished second in the points table and then won the second qualifier to seal their place in the final. And though they lost the summit clash to defending champions Mumbai Indians, there was a lot for them to feel encouraged about.
Delhi Capitals were one of the few IPL teams who managed to make a swift adjustment to the surfaces used in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, which, though traditionally spin-friendly just like India’s, still pose unique challenges of their own.
Shikhar Dhawan is DC’s top run-getter for IPL 2021 so far, with 380 runs at an average of 54.28 and a strike-rate of 134.27. Dhawan’s opening partner Prithvi Shaw is only second in the list with 308 runs at an average of 38.50 and strike-rate of 166.48.
On the bowling front, pacer Avesh Khan is his team’s top wicket-taker with 14 scalps while going for a respectable 7.70 runs per over.
Given their highly successful beginning of the competition, DC look prime to reach the playoffs for sure, needing to win two more games out of their six remainings to secure a place in the top 4.
They resume their campaign on September 22 with a fixture in Dubai against Sunrisers Hyderabad. It remains to be seen whether they are able to carry their India-leg form forward into the UAE-leg.
