David Warner will lead the Delhi Capitals in the upcoming Indian premier league 2024 season. Warner will lead the side in the absence of injured captain Rishabh Pant.
Delhi Capitals announced this news on the franchise’s Twitter handle on Thursday. Axar Patel will be vice-captain, continuing the role that he got in the 2022 season.
Delhi Capitals needed an interim captain after the horrific car crash of regular captain Rishabh Pant last year in December. Pant luckily survived the dangerous car crash, but after the knee surgery, he was ruled out of playing cricket in 2024. Pant is continuing his gradual recovery after the lucky escape from the accident. Head coach Ricky Ponting and team management believed that Warner is the best man to lead the side in the absence of Rishab Pant, given his vast experience of playing and leading the teams in the Indian Premier League.Â
David Warner made a comeback to the Delhi-based franchise after 13 years when the Capitals bagged him for INR 6.25 crores in the mega auction ahead of the IPL 2022.
Warner has been one of the most successful international players in the history of the IPL. He is the fifth-highest run-getter in the IPL’s history with 5881 runs with an impressive strike rate of 140.69. He has 4 centuries and 55 half-centuries to his name, with a healthy average of 42 during his 13-year-long IPL career. He just loves batting here in India.
He has an impressive record as captain as well; he had previously led the Delhi team (Previously Delhi Daredevils) for a couple of matches during his first stint between 2009 and 2013. Then he was picked by Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2014 and appointed the captain a year later. He led them to their first title in 2016, beating Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final. He was Hybdrabad’s main man during those years, scoring loads of runs for them.
He also had very impressive batting numbers as a captain; it’s something that he takes pride in doing. He has scored 2840 runs at an average of over 47 and an SR of 142.28 while leading the team in the IPL. After the fallout between him and SRH management, he was released from the squad ahead of the 2022 mega auction.
Warner was the highest run-getter for the Delhi Capitals last season; he scored 432 runs at an impressive average of 48 and a strike rate of over 150 with 5 half-centuries. He, along with Prithvi Shaw, gave them the flying starts throughout the last season.
With Rishabh Pant missing out the entire season, Axar not yet ready for the lead role, Prithvi Shaw’s inconsistency with bat, and doubts on the availability of the other overseas players, Warner was the best choice available for the Delhi Capitals.
Warner is currently in India to play three-match ODI series against India starting on March 17 in Mumbai. He would like to forget his red-ball performances and score some runs with the white ball before joining the DC squad for the IPL 2024 season starting March 31st.
Axar Patel will be vice-captain
Indian all-rounder Axar Patel will continue to be vice-captain in the 2024 season. Axar has been an integral member of DC management. He was retained by DC last season ahead of a mega auction. He was appointed vice-captain to help Rishabh Pant in taking the team to their first title. Axar is coming from an impressive performance in the recently concluded Border Gavaskar trophy. He was second highest run-getter for India (264), just behind Virat Kohli. He will provide much-needed assistance to Warner.
