IPL titles: 0
Delhi Daredevils as they were called earlier endured a tough time season after season failing to qualify for the Playoffs for six straight seasons starting 2013 season. It was only in the 2019 season that they broke the duck making it to Qualifier 2 where they lost to Chennai Super Kings. Delhi Capitals, as they were rebranded in the 2019 season, have been on an upward curve though and improving. In the 2020 season they made it to the final but lost to reigning champions Mumbai Indians. Prior to this they were the only team not to have made a final appearance in the League. In the 2021 season, they topped the points table and reached Qualifier 2 where they lost to KKR. They have made it to the semis/playoffs six times in 13 seasons and have finished last in the group four times. Three of their play-off appearances have come in the last three seasons. The young vibrant team has turned the tables. Now, as they start a new journey with a revamped team, they would be looking to lift that first title..
Here’s how they have fared year on year:
How did they fare the previous season: The Delhi Capitals narrowly missed out on the playoffs last season, finishing fifth. They ended their IPL 2022 campaign with 14 points, winning seven and losing the same number of matches out of 14 games. They missed out on playoffs to RCB, who finished fourth with 16 points.
Win Percentage: Delhi Capitals are placed fifth when it comes to teams with win percentage in IPL history. The Capitals have played 225 matches in the history of IPL, having won 100 of those, while they have lost 118 matches.
Highest Run-getter: Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant leads Delhi’s run-scoring chart with 2838 runs from 97 innings at 3460. He’s scored one century and 15 fifties and possesses a strike rate of 147.96.
Highest wicket taker: Amit Mishra
The veteran was a consistent performer for DC over the years. He scalped 110 wickets from 103 innings at 23.93. He has one five-for and two four-fers to his name and an impressive economy rate of 7.37 and strike rate of 19.3. After 13 years with the franchise, Mishra was not be seen in the DC jersey as he went unsold in the 2022 auction.
Among the current DC players, South Africa pacer Anrich Nortje is the highest wicket taker for the franchise with 43 wickets from 30 innings at 21.30. He has an economy rate of 8.05 and Strike Rate of 15.8.
Highest individual score: Rishabh Pant 128 not out from 63 balls vs Sunrisers Hyderabad in Delhi in 2018
Walking in at 21/2 in the 4th over, Pant hit a whirlwind 128 not out off 63 balls to catapult Delhi to 187/5 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. However, his efforts went in vain as Shikhar Dhawan (92) and Kane Williamson chased the target down with seven balls and nine wickets to spare.
Highest team score: 231/4 vs KXIP in Delhi in 2011
Powered by David Warner (48 ball 77) and Virender Sehwag’s (35-ball 77) half-centuries, DD posted 231/4 against KXIP at the then called Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium. Shaun Marsh led KXIP’s fight with a 46-ball 95 but Punjab fell well short, by 29 runs. Warner was named the Man of the Match.
Favourite opponent: Deccan Chargers
Delhi have had the best win percentage against Deccan Chargers (For teams against whom DC have played 10 or more matches). They have won 7 out of the 11 matches and lost 4 with a win percentage of 63.63. Among the current teams (against whom they have played 10 or more matches), they have the best record against Rajasthan Royals – 50 percent having won 12 and lost 12 of the 24 matches played.
Bogey team: Chennai Super Kings
Delhi have struggled against CSK with 17 losses from 27 matches and just 10 wins.
When they played in the UAE:
The Daredevils as they were known back then had a mixed outing in the UAE in 2014 with two wins and three losses from five matches. When they came back after six years, they had their best time, finishing as runners-up.
In 2021, they had a mixed outing as they won four and lost four of the eight matches of the UAE leg, reaching the Qualifier 2 stage before losing to KKR by 3 wickets.
Lesser known facts:
– Delhi have suffered joint-most number of consecutive defeats in a season – 9 in 2014. Pune suffered the same fate in the 2012 season.
– They also hold the record jointly with Pune for most consecutive defeats overall – 11. (Delhi’s extending from 2014 to 2015 and Pune’s extending from 2012 to 2013).
– There has been 131 ducks recorded in the DC jersey so far – the second-most after Mumbai Indians (135) so far..
Retentions, purchases and squad
Retained players: Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Prithvi Shaw, Anrich Nortje, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Sarfaraz Khan, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Mustafizur Rahman, Kuldeep Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed, Chetan Sakariya, Lalit Yadav, Ripal Patel, Yash Dhull, Rovman Powell, Pravin Dubey, Lungi Ngidi, Vicky Ostwal, Aman Khan
IPL 2023 players purchased in auction:
Phil Salt (Rs 2 Cr), Ishant Sharma (Rs 50 lakh), Mukesh Kumar (Rs 5.50 Cr), Manish Pandey (Rs 2.40 Cr), Rilee Rossouw (Rs 4.6 Cr)
Full squad: Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Prithvi Shaw, Anrich Nortje, David Warner (Captain), Mitchell Marsh, Sarfaraz Khan, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Mustafizur Rahman, Kuldeep Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed, Chetan Sakariya, Lalit Yadav, Ripal Patel, Yash Dhull, Rovman Powell, Pravin Dubey, Lungi Ngidi, Vicky Ostwal, Aman Khan, Phil Salt, Ishant Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, Manish Pandey, Rilee Rossouw