Delhi Capitals, formerly known as Delhi Daredevils, are a prominent franchise cricket team that graces the Indian Premier League (IPL) with its vibrant presence. This professional cricket team is based in the bustling city of Delhi and is jointly owned by the esteemed GMR Group and the dynamic JSW Sports. Let’s delve into the fascinating history and evolution of this franchise, their home ground, and the beats that resonate with their journey.
Franchise History
The IPL, organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and endorsed by the International Cricket Council (ICC), kickstarted in April–June 2008. The BCCI unveiled a list of eight teams representing different cities across India, including Delhi, for the inaugural season. The teams went up for auction in Mumbai on February 20, 2008, and the Delhi franchise was acquired by the illustrious GMR Group for a whopping sum of US$84 million.
Fast forward to March 2018, and GMR made a significant move by selling a 50% stake in the Delhi Daredevils to JSW Sports for ₹550 crore (US$69 million).
In December 2018, a historic transformation took place when the team rebranded itself from the Delhi Daredevils to the Delhi Capitals. The decision was grounded in the vision of the franchise, with co-owner and chairman Parth Jindal explaining, “Delhi is the power centre of the country, it is the capital, therefore the name Delhi Capitals.” This change symbolized the team’s aspiration to be at the heart of all the cricketing action.
Home Ground
The Delhi Capitals call the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi their home. This iconic venue has witnessed countless battles and spectacular cricketing moments. Additionally, they have the modern Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur as their second home ground, although they haven’t played any matches there since 2016.
Delhi Capitals in the IPL: A Season-by-Season Rollercoaster Ride
The Delhi Capitals, formerly known as the Delhi Daredevils, have experienced a tumultuous journey in the Indian Premier League (IPL). From the highs of reaching the final to the lows of languishing at the bottom, the Capitals’ journey has been a rollercoaster ride. Let’s take a look at their IPL journey season by season:
2008 – Fourth
In their debut season, Delhi started strongly, winning seven out of 14 matches to finish fourth. However, their dreams were dashed by the Rajasthan Royals in the semi-final, who went on to claim the title.
2009 – Third
The Capitals emerged as the form team in the group phase, winning ten out of their first 14 games and topping the table. Unfortunately, they stumbled in the semi-final, losing to eventual champions Deccan Chargers.
2010 – Fifth
Hopes were high after their strong performances in the first two seasons. However, they could only manage five wins, tying on points with three other teams. Their net run rate worked against them, and they missed out on the playoffs.
2011 – Tenth
The introduction of Pune Warriors India and Kochi Tuskers Kerala expanded the IPL to ten teams, and Delhi found themselves at the bottom of the table, finishing last.
2012 – Third
A star-studded lineup featuring Sehwag, Pietersen, Jayawardene, Morkel, and Warner propelled Delhi to the top of the table in the league stage. Despite their dominance, they were unable to secure the title, falling short in the knockout stage against KKR and CSK.
2013 – Ninth
Delhi hit rock bottom with only three wins and 13 losses. Their first victory came in the seventh game, and a string of six consecutive defeats ended their campaign.
2014 – Eighth
Another disappointing season followed, with two wins and 12 losses. Delhi finished the tournament with nine consecutive losses, mirroring the previous year’s slump.
2015 – Seventh
Though a slight improvement, Delhi’s performance was still below par, with five wins and eight losses. They finished above Kings XI Punjab, another team that struggled.
2016 – Sixth
A minor uptick in fortunes saw Delhi finish sixth, with seven wins and seven losses. Quinton de Kock shone with 445 runs, while Amit Mishra and Chris Morris took 26 wickets between them.
2017 – Seventh
Delhi’s performance remained consistent with a sixth-place finish, securing six wins and eight losses. However, the emergence of players like Sanju Samson, Rishabh Pant, and Shreyas Iyer offered hope for the team’s future.
2018 – Eighth
Despite strong individual performances, including Pant’s 684 runs, Delhi finished last for the fourth time, with nine losses and five wins.
2019 – Third
A resurgence saw Delhi finish third. With Dhawan’s return, the team was bolstered by strong batting performances, winning nine games. Their journey ended in the playoffs against CSK.
2020 – Runners-up
Dhawan and Iyer’s stellar batting, backed by Rabada and Nortje’s wickets, propelled Delhi to the final, although they narrowly missed the title.
2021 – Third
Avesh Khan’s brilliant performance, along with strong contributions from Dhawan, Shaw, and Pant, led to a third-place finish. However, their batting depth was tested in the playoffs.
2022 – Fifth
A heart-wrenching exit resulted from a controversial caught-behind incident in their last league game. Despite good performances by Warner, Shaw, and a new-look bowling attack, they missed the playoffs.
2023 – Ninth
A decade-low finish for the Capitals, with injuries and inconsistent performances hampering their campaign. The absence of Pant and a dip in Kuldeep Yadav’s form were notable setbacks.
The Delhi Capitals’ IPL journey has been marked by highs and lows, making them one of the most unpredictable teams in the league. Despite the challenges, the team has shown flashes of brilliance and remains a force to be reckoned with in the world of T20 cricket.
IPL Standing
| Year | League standing | Final standing |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 4th out of 8 | Semi-finalists |
| 2009 | 1st out of 8 | Semi-finalists |
| 2010 | 5th out of 8 | League stage |
| 2011 | 10th out of 10 | League stage |
| 2012 | 1st out of 9 | Playoffs |
| 2013 | 9th out of 9 | League stage |
| 2014 | 8th out of 8 | League stage |
| 2015 | 7th out of 8 | League stage |
| 2016 | 6th out of 8 | League stage |
| 2017 | 6th out of 8 | League stage |
| 2018 | 8th out of 8 | League stage |
| 2019 | 3rd out of 8 | Playoffs |
| 2020 | 2nd out of 8 | Runners-up |
| 2021 | 1st out of 8 | Playoffs |
| 2022 | 5th out of 10 | League stage |
| 2023 | 9th out of 10 | League stage |
By Opposition
| Opponent | Played | Won | Lost | Tied+W | Tied+L | Tied | No result | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings | 28 | 10 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35.71 |
| Gujarat Titans | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Deccan Chargers | 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 63.63 |
| Gujarat Lions | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75.00 |
| Kochi Tuskers Kerala | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 32 | 15 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 46.87 |
| Lucknow Super Giants | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Mumbai Indians | 33 | 15 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45.45 |
| Pune Warriors India | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 60.00 |
| Punjab Kings | 30 | 14 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48.33 |
| Rajasthan Royals | 27 | 13 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48.14 |
| Rising Pune Supergiant | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Royal Challengers Bangalore | 31 | 11 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 35.48 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 23 | 10 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43.47 |
Team Anthems: The Rhythms of the Capitals
Every IPL franchise has an anthem that encapsulates the spirit of their team and resonates with the fans. The Delhi Capitals are no exception, and their anthems have evolved over the years.
- Bollywood playback singer Kailash Kher lent his voice to the team’s anthem, “Khelo Front Foot Pe,” which translates to “Play on the front foot.” This anthem encapsulates the team’s aggressive spirit.
- In 2012, they unveiled “Munday Dilli Ke” (“The Lads from Delhi”), sung by Jaspreet Jasz and composed by Arijit Datta and Micu Patel, signifying their unwavering connection with the city.
- For the 2016 season, the theme song “Dhuandaar Dilli,” sung by Sukhwinder Singh, showcased the team’s determination to conquer.
- In 2018, they introduced another theme song, “Dil Dilli hai, ab Dhadkega,” reinforcing their passion for the game and the city.
- The theme song for the 2019 season, following their transformation into the Delhi Capitals, was “Roar Machaa,” sung by Amit Trivedi, reflecting their roaring ambition.
The Delhi Capitals have not only evolved as a cricketing powerhouse but also in their identity and aspirations. With a vibrant history, iconic home ground, and anthems that strike a chord with fans, they continue to be a compelling force in the IPL, representing the heart and soul of Delhi on the cricketing stage.
Highest Totals
| SCORE | OPPONENT | GROUND |
| 231/4 | PUNJAB KINGS | DELHI |
| 228/4 | KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS | SHARJAH |
| 219/4 | KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS | DELHI |
| 215/5 | KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS | BRABOURNE |
Lowest Totals
| SCORE | OPPONENT | GROUND |
| 66 | MUMBAI INDIANS | DELHI |
| 67 | PUNJAB KINGS | MOHALI |
| 80 | CHENNAI SUPER KINGS | HYDERABAD |
| 83 | SUNRISERS HYDERABAD | DELHI |
Most Runs
| PLAYER | MATCH | INNINGS | RUNS |
| RISHABH PANT | 98 | 97 | 2838 |
| DAVID WARNER | 81 | 81 | 2383 |
| SHREYAS IYER | 87 | 87 | 2375 |
| VIRENDRA SEHWAG | 79 | 79 | 2174 |
Most Wickets
| PLAYER | MATCH | WICKETS |
| AMIT MISHRA | 99 | 106 |
| KAGISO RABADA | 50 | 76 |
| ANRICH NORTJE | 40 | 53 |
| AXAR PATEL | 68 | 51 |
Delhi Capitals Squad
Khaleel Ahmed, Yash Dhull, Praveen Dubey, Priyam Garg, Aman Khan, Sarfaraz Khan, Mukesh Kumar, Mitchell Marsh, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Manish Pandey, Axar Patel, Ripal Patel, Rovman Powell, Lalit Yadav, Vicky Ostwal, Mustafizur Rahman, Rilee Rossouw, Chetan Sakariya, Phil Salt, Ishant Sharma, Prithvi Shaw, David Warner, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant
