After the IPL 2020 auction last Thursday (19th December), Delhi Capitals (DC) chairman Parth Jindal has confirmed that Shreyas Iyer will continue his leadership role in the IPL 2020.
Since the IPL 2013, the Delhi franchise always underperformed till the 2018 edition. Though one of the successful captains Gautam Gambhir re-joined the franchise ahead of the 2018 season and also took up the captaincy role, their results still failed to develop. In the mid-season of IPL 2018, Gambhir stepped down from the captaincy, and Shreyas Iyer was appointed for that role. Soon after that, the Delhi franchise’s performances improved positively. Though they still finished in the last position in IPL 2018, Shreyas Iyer-led side had put a strong impression in the late of that tournament.
Ahead of the IPL 2019, the Delhi franchise made some crucial changes in the squad as well as in the coaching staff, but Iyer remained as the captain of the side. It was the memorable season for the Delhi franchise as they achieved their joint-best position in IPL history by finishing in the third position. After finishing in the third position in the points table, though DC beat Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the eliminator, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ended their journey by beating them in the Qualifier 2.
Shreyas Iyer has done a wonderful job for the team – Delhi Capitals
Though the Delhi Capitals have already added Ajinkya Rahane and Ravichandran Ashwin in their squad before the IPL 2020 auction, the team management is confident on the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, who is now impressive cricket for the Indian national cricket team.
DC chairman Parth Jindal claimed after the IPL 2020 auction, “We went from being at an eighth place to coming third last year. He has done a wonderful job for the team. He has also cemented his place in the Indian side. We don’t need to tinker with the formula. Rahane and Ashwin on the side are great. Iyer will benefit from the experience in the side.”
Shreyas Iyer has led the Delhi franchise in 24 IPL matches, out of which, his side won 14 games (including one tied game) and lost ten games.
The 25-year-old Shreyas Iyer has already played 11 ODIs and 14 T20Is where he has scored 469 (average 52.11) and 226 runs (average 22.60) respectively. While the right-handed batsman has hit one T20I half-century, he has registered six half-centuries in his nine ODI innings.