Delhi Capitals, previously known as Delhi Daredevils, have had several captains leading their IPL journey. From Virender Sehwag’s dynamic leadership to Rishabh Pant’s youthful energy, the team has seen a mix of experienced veterans and emerging stars. This article explores the evolution of Delhi Capitals’ leadership, highlighting their contributions and impact on the team’s performance over the years.
Delhi Capitals have never won the IPL.
The Delhi Capitals (DC) are one of the few franchises that have been a constant presence in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since its inception in 2008, yet they remain without a single title to their name. Across 17 seasons, they have made it to the IPL final only once, in 2020, where they were defeated by the Mumbai Indians.
Initially launched as the Delhi Daredevils, the franchise was wholly owned by the GMR Group. However, in 2018, GMR sold a 50% stake to JSW Sports, leading to a rebranding as the Delhi Capitals. This shift brought changes not only to their name but also to their jersey and logo.
Over the years, Delhi has seen 14 different captains and made six playoff appearances. The team’s first captain, Virender Sehwag, remains their most successful leader, having led them in 52 matches and securing 28 wins—the highest under any Delhi skipper.
The Evolution of Delhi Capitals’ Captaincy: From Sehwag to Warner and Beyond
After Virender Sehwag’s stint as captain, Delhi struggled to find stability in their leadership position for several years. It wasn’t until Shreyas Iyer took over the reins midway through the 2018 IPL season that the franchise began to show some consistency. Iyer’s leadership marked a turning point, offering a sense of direction to the team.
With the arrival of former Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting as head coach, Delhi Capitals entered a phase of steady improvement. Over the next three seasons (2019-2021), the team showcased significant growth and made it to the playoffs in all three years. Under Iyer’s leadership, the Capitals reached the playoffs twice, while Rishabh Pant guided the team to a top-four finish in 2021, following Iyer’s absence due to injury. This period of consistency raised hopes of the franchise finally becoming a serious contender for the IPL title.
However, the following seasons saw a dip in form. Despite the presence of experienced leaders like Pant and David Warner, Delhi Capitals failed to finish in the top four in the next three years. The team faced various challenges on and off the field, with leadership transitions and inconsistent performances leading to disappointing results.
Delhi’s captaincy history has seen both Indian and overseas leaders. While Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Iyer, Pant, Dinesh Karthik, and Zaheer Khan led the charge for the team, the franchise also experimented with several international captains. Players like David Warner, James Hopes, Mahela Jayawardene, Kevin Pietersen, JP Duminy, and Ross Taylor have all had stints in the captaincy role. Despite these changes, Delhi’s quest for an IPL title continues, with the team hoping for a more stable and successful future.
Here is the list of all Delhi Capitals captain in IPL:
| Player | Span | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | Draw | NR |
| Virender Sehwag | 2008-2012 | 52 | 28 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gautam Gambhir | 2009-2018 | 25 | 12 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dinesh Karthik | 2010-2014 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| James Hopes | 2011-2011 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | 2012-2013 | 18 | 6 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Ross Taylor | 2012-2012 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| David Warner | 2013-2023 | 16 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kevin Pietersen | 2014-2014 | 11 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| JP Duminy | 2015-2016 | 16 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Zaheer Khan | 2016-2017 | 23 | 10 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Karun Nair | 2017-2017 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Shreyas Iyer | 2018-2020 | 41 | 21 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Rishabh Pant | 2021-2024 | 43 | 23 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Axar Patel | 2024-2024 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |