“Delhi Capitals, a formidable team in the Indian Premier League (IPL), have captivated fans with their competitive spirit and skilled players. With a strong focus on teamwork and strategy, the Delhi Capitals aim to achieve great success in every season, making them a team to watch in the tournament.”
Captain: Axar Patel
Coach: Hemang Badani
Home ground: Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi
IPL titles: 0
Owners: GMR Sports Pvt Ltd, JSW Sports Pvt Ltd
Coach: Hemang Badani
Home ground: Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi
IPL titles: 0
Owners: GMR Sports Pvt Ltd, JSW Sports Pvt Ltd
Delhi Capitals (earlier Daredevils) stumbled in the semi-finals in the first two seasons, and in the playoffs in 2012 and 2019. They made the title round for the first time in 2020, where they lost to Mumbai Indians. They made it almost as far in 2021 too, topping the table in the league stage, but then lost both their playoffs to crash out.
Delhi Capitals history
Capitals have been underachievers in the IPL, though they started strongly. They also made the playoffs and finished third after topping the table at the end of the group stage in 2012, but finished last in 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2018.
In December 2018 the franchise was rebranded as Delhi Capitals, and the change of name seemed to bring a change of fortune too – they made the playoffs in 2019, and in 2020, got to the final for the first time with a largely young team. In 2021 they made the playoffs again after finishing top of the league table.
Despite claiming stability in recent years and focusing on youth, Delhi’s squad-building decisions have proven detrimental. In 2008, they failed to pursue Virat Kohli vigorously, believing they had a strong lineup with Virender Sehwag, Shikhar Dhawan, Gautam Gambhir, Tillakaratne Dilshan, and AB de Villiers. After three productive years, they released Gambhir, who led Kolkata Knight Riders to three IPL titles, while Kohli emerged as a top performer, albeit without winning the IPL with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Delhi’s history includes letting go of stars like de Villiers, Andre Russell, Trent Boult, and more recently, Shreyas Iyer, Kagiso Rabada, and Avesh Khan. These choices haunt the franchise, highlighting missed opportunities and the impact of poor decisions on their journey in the IPL.
Delhi Capitals highs
Delhi Capitals had good years in 2008 and 2009, when they made the semi-finals, and though they got to the final in 2020, their best seasons were arguably 2012, when they won 11 of their 16 league matches, and 2021, when they won ten out of 14. In 2012, Sehwag, Mahela Jayawardene and Kevin Pietersen made over 300 runs each (Sehwag made 495); and Morne Morkel and Umesh Yadav took 44 wickets between them. In 2021, young Avesh Khan finished second on the list of wicket-takers for the tournament, with 24.
Delhi Capitals lows
Delhi Capitals hit a trough from 2013 to 2018. Nothing they tried seemed to work, or even make sense. And when they didn’t finish at the bottom, they still failed to rise above No. 6 on the table. In 2023 they crashed and burned again, finishing near the bottom of the table.
Delhi Capitals season by season
2024 – 6th Place
- Matches: 14
- Wins: 7
- Win Percentage: 50%
- Summary: Another mediocre season for Delhi Capitals. Jake Fraser-McGurk shone with 330 runs in nine matches, while Rishabh Pant had a solid comeback with 446 runs. However, captain David Warner underperformed in his last season, and the team finished in the bottom half after recovering from a poor start.
2023 – 9th Place
- Matches: 14
- Wins: 5
- Win Percentage: 35.7%
- Summary: This marked D elhi Capitals worst finish in a decade. Missing the injured Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav’s performance dropped significantly. Warner scored 516 runs but lacked support, and the team never recovered after losing their first five matches.
2022 – 5th Place
- Matches: 14
- Wins: 7
- Win Percentage: 50%
- Summary: The season had its potential, as one game lost to Mumbai Indians kept them from qualifying. Warner, Shaw, and Mitchell Marsh showed promise, while Kuldeep excelled with 21 wickets.
2021 – 3rd Place
- Matches: 16
- Wins: 10
- Win Percentage: 62.5%
- Summary: Avesh Khan emerged as the key player, taking 24 wickets. Dhawan, Shaw, and Pant contributed significantly, but the batting lineup lacked depth, leading to a playoff exit.
2020 – Runners-Up
- Matches: 17
- Wins: 9
- Win Percentage: 52.9%
- Summary: Delhi Capitals made a strong run, led by Dhawan and Iyer’s batting. They secured eight wins in the league but fell short in the final against Mumbai Indians.
2019 – 3rd Place
- Matches: 16
- Wins: 10
- Win Percentage: 62.5%
- Summary: A solid campaign with strong performances from Pant, Iyer, Shaw, and Dhawan, resulting in a playoff appearance and a historic knockout win against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
2018 – 8th Place
- Matches: 14
- Wins: 5
- Win Percentage: 35.7%
- Summary: The 2018 season was another challenging year for the Delhi Capitals. Despite some brilliant individual performances, particularly from Rishabh Pant, who emerged as a leading run-scorer, the team could not translate those efforts into overall success. The Capitals faced difficulty in their middle order and suffered from inconsistent performances throughout the season. Ultimately, they managed just five wins and found themselves languishing near the bottom of the table, forcing stakeholders to reassess the team strategy and player dynamics as they looked ahead to future seasons.
2017 – 7th Place
- Matches: 14
- Wins: 6
- Win Percentage: 42.8%
- Summary: The 2017 season was marked by flashes of brilliance but continued inconsistency for the Delhi Capitals. Youngsters like Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer kept fans optimistic, showcasing their talent with strong performances. However, the team struggled to build on these efforts, finishing with six wins and ultimately placing seventh. The season served as a reminder of the growing core of young talent, but also emphasized the need for experienced leadership and strategic planning to elevate the team’s standing in future tournaments.
2016 – 6th Place
- Matches: 14
- Wins: 7
- Win Percentage: 50%
- Summary: The 2016 season was a step forward for the Delhi Capitals, as they managed to find some consistency in their performance. With strong contributions from Quinton de Kock, who was the standout batsman, and the bowling prowess of Amit Mishra and Chris Morris, the team showed promise. They finished with seven wins, demonstrating a newfound competitiveness. However, they fell short of the playoffs once again, highlighting the need for improvement in both batting depth and finishing ability to convert close matches into wins.
2015 – 7th Place
- Matches: 14
- Wins: 5
- Win Percentage: 35.7%
- Summary: The 2015 season showed a slight improvement for the Delhi Capitals, though they still struggled to break into the upper echelons of the league. Under a new captain, the team managed five wins, showcasing glimpses of talent with performances from players like Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer. However, stability remained elusive, and the team lacked the necessary consistency to mount a serious challenge for the playoffs. They finished in seventh place, just above the bottom teams, but still left fans wanting more from the franchise.
2014 – 8th Place
- Matches: 14
- Wins: 2
- Win Percentage: 14.2%
- Summary: The 2014 season was a dismal one for the Delhi Capitals, as they struggled to find their footing. Despite having star players like Pietersen, the team was plagued by inconsistency and injuries. The Capitals managed only two wins in 14 matches, finishing at the bottom of the table for the season. The campaign highlighted serious issues within the squad, including a lack of depth in batting and ineffective bowling. With morale low, the team faced nine consecutive losses that ultimately sealed their fate in a season to forget
2013 – 10th Place
- Matches: 16
- Wins: 3
- Win Percentage: 18.7%
- Summary: The 2013 season was a difficult year for the Delhi Capitals, as they struggled significantly throughout the tournament. With a mixture of injuries and inconsistent performances, the team was unable to find their rhythm, finishing with only three victories from 16 matches. Key players, including Virender Sehwag and Kevin Pietersen, did not perform to expectations. The season was marked by a series of defeats that ultimately led to a last-place finish in the standings.
2012 – 3rd Place
- Matches: 18
- Wins: 11
- Win Percentage: 61.1%
- Summary: Delhi Capitals showcased a strong season with star players like Sehwag, Pietersen, Jayawardene, Morkel, and Warner performing exceptionally well. They finished at the top of the league stage, but once again fell short in the playoffs, losing to KKR and CSK.
2011 – 10th Place
- Matches: 14
- Wins: 4
- Win Percentage: 28.5%
- Summary: This season marked a crisis as Delhi Capitals finished last in the tournament. With the entry of Pune Warriors India and Kochi Tuskers Kerala, Delhi floundered, ending the season with just four wins.
2010 – 5th Place
- Matches: 14
- Wins: 7
- Win Percentage: 50%
- Summary:
- Delhi Capitals aimed to build on the momentum from their previous seasons but encountered inconsistencies throughout the tournament.
- They started the season with back-to-back victories but struggled to maintain their performance, ultimately winning only five more matches after their initial two.
- The team finished the season tied on points with three other teams, but their net run rate placed them lower in the standings.
- Consequently, they missed out on a playoff spot, finishing fifth behind Mumbai Indians and Deccan Chargers, among others.
2009 – 3rd Place
- Matches: 15
- Wins: 10
- Win Percentage: 66.6%
- Summary: The Capitals were in fine form during the group stage, winning ten matches before succumbing to Deccan Chargers in the semi-final. They finished at the top of the group phase, showcasing solid team performance throughout.
2008 – 4th Place
- Matches: 14
- Wins: 7
- Win Percentage: 50%
- Summary: The season began positively with two consecutive wins, leading to a total of seven victories. However, despite a decent performance, they lost to Rajasthan Royals in the semi-final after a strong group stage.
Delhi Capitals key players
Rishabh Pant
Pant is now the highest scorer in the team’s history, with over 3000 runs, in front of Iyer, Sehwag and Dhawan. More impressive has been his strike rate of 148.93, and his reputation as one of the most feared middle-order T20 batters around. He failed to make much of an impact in the 2022 season, was out injured in the following one, and made a better-than-expected comeback in 2024.
Pant is now the highest scorer in the team’s history, with over 3000 runs, in front of Iyer, Sehwag and Dhawan. More impressive has been his strike rate of 148.93, and his reputation as one of the most feared middle-order T20 batters around. He failed to make much of an impact in the 2022 season, was out injured in the following one, and made a better-than-expected comeback in 2024.
Virender Sehwag
Sehwag, whose last game was in 2013, only slipped from the No. 1 spot for Delhi’s top run-getters in 2020, when Iyer went past his 2174 runs. Sehwag captained the side to the top four in both the first two seasons. They next made the playoffs in 2012, and he was key there too, becoming only the second man to hit five consecutive T20 half-centuries in a season.
Sehwag, whose last game was in 2013, only slipped from the No. 1 spot for Delhi’s top run-getters in 2020, when Iyer went past his 2174 runs. Sehwag captained the side to the top four in both the first two seasons. They next made the playoffs in 2012, and he was key there too, becoming only the second man to hit five consecutive T20 half-centuries in a season.
Amit Mishra
Mishra played for Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants too, but it was with Delhi that he achieved IPL greatness, taking 106 wickets in 99 matches. He didn’t really get a lot of opportunities in the 2021 season and moved to LSG in 2023 after going unsold the previous year.
Mishra played for Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants too, but it was with Delhi that he achieved IPL greatness, taking 106 wickets in 99 matches. He didn’t really get a lot of opportunities in the 2021 season and moved to LSG in 2023 after going unsold the previous year.
Shreyas Iyer
Iyer didn’t play for an IPL franchise other than Delhi until 2022, when he was picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders. His numbers tell you why Delhi held on to him: 2375 runs from 87 matches. He was the man they turned to for batting solidity and leadership nous – but for the injury that restricted his participation in 2021 to only the second leg.
Iyer didn’t play for an IPL franchise other than Delhi until 2022, when he was picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders. His numbers tell you why Delhi held on to him: 2375 runs from 87 matches. He was the man they turned to for batting solidity and leadership nous – but for the injury that restricted his participation in 2021 to only the second leg.
David Warner
Warner played for Delhi Daredevils their first five seasons in the league, and then came back in 2022. That year he was the leading run-maker for Capitals, when they finished in the middle of the table. The following season, he made even more runs but was largely a one-man band.
Warner played for Delhi Daredevils their first five seasons in the league, and then came back in 2022. That year he was the leading run-maker for Capitals, when they finished in the middle of the table. The following season, he made even more runs but was largely a one-man band.
Delhi Capitals Squad
- Axar Patel
- Faf du Plessis
- Abishek Porel
- Harry Brook
- Dushmantha Chameera
- Donovan Ferreira
- Jake Fraser-McGurk
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Ajay Mandal
- Manvanth Kumar
- Mukesh Kumar
- Karun Nair
- Darshan Nalkande
- T Natarajan
- Vipraj Nigam
- KL Rahul
- Sameer Rizvi
- Mohit Sharma
- Ashutosh Sharma
- Mitchell Starc
- Tristan Stubbs
- Madhav Tiwari
- Tripurana Vijay
Highest totals For Indian Premier League – Delhi Capitals
Highest totals