IPL 2023: Delhi Capitals likely to approach David Warner for captaincy

Pant has been the mainstay of the middle-order. Warner has the experience of leading IPL teams. The management will speak to him. The middle-order needs an impactful Indian batter now. Sarfaraz will be asked to keep wickets if the combination asks for it. Meanwhile, the team will be looking for a domestic wicketkeeper or a strong batter,” a source told TOI on Wednesday.

There will be an eye on Bengal’s 20-year-old left-handed wicketkeeper Abhishek Porel.
If Capitals play Salt, then they will have to depend on Indian pacers as either Anrich Nortje or Mustafizur Rahman would have to be benched. Mitch Marsh has provided them a solid allround option and it will be difficult to bench him. Rovman Powell too, had come through really well during the last IPL. All eyes will be on Sarfaraz and India’s U-19 World Cup-winning captain Yash Dhull now.

Interestingly, Delhi Capitals secured the services of England wicketkeeper Phil Salt in the auction that took place on December 23 last year. Though he was a back-up option at that point in time, the franchise can ponder over picking him as Pant’s replacement. However, in that case, the balance of the team is likely to affect and the franchise then will have to bench either Mustafizur Rahman or Anrich Nortje.

Also, with the need of Rishabh Pant’s replacement in the middle, there is every possibility of India’s U19 World Cup-winning captain Yash Dhull getting a chance in the upcoming IPL season.

According to the Times of India (TOI), Delhi Capitals team management will request David Warner to captain their franchise for the next edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Warner, who has 5,881 runs in 162 IPL games at a strike rate of 140.69, will be offered the role to replace Rishabh Pant, who is expected to be away from the sport for a long time due to an accident he had in the early hours of December 30 on National Highway 58.

Keeping in mind Pant has been keeping wickets for them over the past five years, the Capitals did not break the bank for any other wicket-keeper. They got Phil Salt and Abhishek Porel for the job, but in all likelihood, the gloves will be primarily offered to Sarfaraz Khan as per the report.

“Pant has been the mainstay of the middle-order. Warner has experience in leading IPL teams. The management will speak to him. The middle order needs an impactful India batting now. Sarfaraz will be asked to keep wickets if the combination asks for it. Meanwhile, the team will be looking for a domestic wicketkeeper or a strong batter,” a source explained to TOI on Wednesday.

The Capitals acquired the Aussie left-hander at the IPL 2022 mega auction for ₹6.25 crores after he was released by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), who won the prestigious title under his leadership in 2016.

According to the report, the Capitals management is considering approaching David Warner to fill Rishabh’s leadership void. Additionally, sources claimed that the Delhi-based team would urge Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan to take on the role of the wicketkeeper. Even though they won England wicketkeeper Philip Salt at the mini-auction last month, starting him would mess up the team’s lineup.

Warner, who DC purchased during the super auctions last year, was fired by Sunrisers Hyderabad midway through the IPL 2021 before being removed from their starting XI as a result of a string of losses.