Delhi Capitals announce Rishabh Pant as captain for UAE leg of IPL

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Delhi Capitals (DC) have announced that they will keep wicket-keeper batter, Rishabh Pant, as their skipper for the remainder of the 2021 season. The franchise announced the news on Thursday. The latest edition of the IPL was postponed indefinitely halfway due to a deadly second wave of the coronavirus pandemic that hit India. The tournament has since been rescheduled and will be played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) before the ICC T20 World Cup. DC are currently top of the league with 12 points from eight matches. 

In the Indian leg of the IPL, Pant was handed over the responsibility to be the skipper of the team in the absence of Shreyas Iyer. Iyer had to undergo shoulder surgery after he injured himself in the home series against England. He eventually missed the IPL as it was cut short when Covid-19 hit the camps of few franchises.

It was under Iyer that the Delhi franchise managed to bring an end to their disappointing run in the IPL. Under his leadership, the Capitals made it to their maiden IPL final in the previous season. DC also made it to the business end of the competition for the first time since 2012 during Iyer’s maiden captaincy stint. As Delhi’s captain, Iyer had won 21 matches from 41 matches.

Iyer is currently fit and it seems like he will have a part to play in the IPL. After his recovery, talks of the captaincy of the franchise were brought into the fold. Iyer is the regular skipper of the side but Pant has done exceptionally well with the team this year. The Capitals have won six of their first eight matches and currently sit at the top of the IPL table. A Delhi side has never won the IPL and it seems like this season could be the one when that happens.

“JSW-GMR co-owned Delhi Capitals today announced that Rishabh Pant will continue as captain for the remainder of the 2021 season of the Indian Premier League. Delhi Capitals is currently on top of the points table with 6 wins from 8 matches, and will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad on the 22nd of September when the league resumes in the UAE,” the statement released on the Delhi Capitals website read.

The youngster will be looking forward to the opportunity at creating history. He is already an integral part of the Indian team and despite his age, has amassed vast experience from playing extensively in international competitions and series. He was a starting player in India’s recent tour of England. He is also certain to be a part of the Indian contingent that will travel to the UAE for the T20 world cup.

After being under the tutelage of Virat Kohli in the national side for so long, he is sure to have picked up quite a lot of tricks and tips. A talkative individual behind the stumps, Pant is an incredibly difficult player to deal with when someone is on the striker’s end. He can throw the batters off their game and create an advantageous situation for the bowler. It would be interesting to see how he works as a captain in foreign conditions.