IPL 2021 Delhi Capitals, Team Profile: Delhi Capitals Aim For "Fearless" Cricket Under Rishabh Pant
IPL 2021: Delhi Capitals will be looking to build on their previous season, when they reached the IPL final for the first time ever.
Highlights
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Delhi Capitals will play IPL 2021 under Rishabh Pant's captaincy
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They have added eight players to their squad, including Steve Smith
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They will look to improve upon their last season and win a maiden title
Having reached their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) final last season, Delhi Capitals will look to build on their performances and try and clear the final hurdle this time around. The Capitals were dealt a massive blow even before the season started, with captain Shreyas Iyer suffering a shoulder injury during the ODI series between India and England. However, the setback opened up an opportunity for Rishabh Pant, who has been chosen to lead the team in Iyer's absence. The wicketkeeper-batsman has been in red hot form for India over the last two months, and his maiden stint as captain in the IPL could not have come at a better time for him.
"Delhi Capitals as a team plays a passionate and fearless brand of cricket, and Rishabh Pant embodies that best," DC co-owner Parth Jindal had said.
The Capitals will kick off their season against Chennai Super Kings in Mumbai on April 10.
The new faces
DC bought eight new players at the auction as they looked to improve their squad. Steve Smith, for Rs 2.2 crore, was a big bargain for them. They also acquired the services of Sam Billings, Tom Curran and Umesh Yadav along with uncapped Indian players Vishnu Vinod, Lukman Meriwala, M Siddharth and Ripal Patel.
The old guard
The players who helped the Capitals reach the IPL final for the first time were mostly retained. They will be hoping Prithvi Shaw, who was in fine touch in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, can keep up his good form. Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane are the experienced heads in their batting lineup, while Ravichandran Ashwin is also expected to play key roles.
DC also retained the South African duo of Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje, who formed a deadly pace attack last season.
DC's journey last year
The Capitals won eight matches to finish just behind Mumbai Indians in the table in IPL 2020. They lost to MI in the first qualifier, but beat SunRisers Hyderabad in the second qualifier to reach the final. However, they were once again defeated by a rampant MI side.
Delhi Capitals
Rishabh Pant
Steven Smith