Considered to be underdogs in the tournament, the Delhi Capitals have emerged as a fresh team of young players during the Indian Premier League . This year, the team would be looking forward to claiming the title after finishing third last year with the help of explosive batsmen such as Shikhar Dhawan and pacers like Ishant Sharma. The team is considered to change the game at any point in their favour, and will look to do the same during IPL 2020 as well. With the young core of the team threaded with experienced players such as Ajinkya Rahane, one can expect the Delhi Capitals to push to the finish line.<doc-sep>Formerly known as ‘Delhi Daredevils’, the franchise has a new name this season. After Gautam Gambhir stepped down from captaincy in the middle of the last season, right-hander batsman Shreyas Iyer took charge of the side. Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan and pacer Ishant Sharma have joined the franchise. Delhi Capitals also purchased left-arm spinner Axar Patel for INR 5 crore in the auction. It is definitely a young side, but with great support staff in the form of Ricky Ponting, Mohammad Kaif, and Sourav Ganguly. Also READ: Sourav Ganguly picks his Indian squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 The franchise doesn’t hold a good record in IPL as they never even qualified for the finals. But with some key additions to the squad, the franchise will hope to have change things this time. Owners: Kiran Kumar Grandhi (GMR Group) and Parth Jindal (JSW Group) Home ground: Feroz Shah Kotla, New Delhi Players: Shreyas Iyer (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant, Prithvi Shaw, Colin Munro, Ankush Bains, Colin Ingram, Axar Patel, Harshal Patel, Manjot Kalra, Chris Morris, Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford, Jalaj Saxena, Amit Mishra, Rahul Tewatia, Sandeep Lamichhane, Trent Boult, Kagiso Rabada, Avesh Khan, Ishant Sharma, Nathu Singh, Bandaru Ayyappa Support Staff: Head Coach: Ricky Ponting Assistant Coach: Mohammad Kaif Talent Scout: Pravin Amre Fast Bowling Coach: James Hopes Advisor: Sourav Ganguly Stats: Matches played: 161 Matches won: 67 Winning rate: 42.45% Title won: 0 Most runs: Shikhar Dhawan (4058 runs) Most wickets: Amit Mishra (146 wickets) Schedule: Sunday, March 24 8 pm IST: Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals in Mumbai Tuesday, March 26 8 pm IST: Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings in Delhi Saturday, March 30 8 pm IST: Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders in Delhi Monday, April 1 8 pm IST: Kings XI Punjab vs Delhi Capitals in Mohali Thursday, April 4 8 pm IST: Delhi Capitals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad in Delhi Sunday, April 7 4 pm IST: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Delhi Capitals in Bengaluru Friday, April 12 8 pm IST: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals in Kolkata Sunday, April 14 8 pm IST: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Capitals in Hyderabad Thursday, April 18 8 pm IST: Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians in Delhi Saturday, April 20 8 pm IST: Delhi Capitals vs Kings XI Punjab in Delhi Monday, April 22 8 pm IST: Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals in Jaipur Sunday, April 28 4 pm IST: Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore in Delhi Wednesday, May 1 8 pm IST: Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals in Chennai Saturday, May 4 4 pm IST: Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals in Delhi<doc-sep>The Delhi Capitals got off to a winning start in the 12th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) with a 37-run victory over three-time champions Mumbai Indians, courtesy Rishabh Pant’s powerful cameo of 78* off 27 balls and some good bowling under pressure by Kagiso Rabada. After Pant had helped Delhi ransack 99 runs in the last seven overs, Mumbai Indians found themselves needing 106 off seven, but with half their side back in the hut, it was always a tough task and despite Yuvraj Singh turning back time with a 35-ball 53, the Shreyas Iyer-led Delhi managed to hold their nerves to register a win. “It’s been a great journey, trying to learn every day in my cricketing career. Always a great feeling when you score runs and the team wins. I always bat according to the situation all the time. Today when I came in, I had to up the ante and so took my chances. It came off tonight. (On his unorthodox methods) Especially in T20, you have to do something different. Sometimes when bowlers cramp you for room, you got to make your own room. (Whether he is ok with batting at 5) Well, (pauses), glad to bat anywhere the team wants me to,” Pant said after receiving the Man of the Match award. Here’s how Twitter reacted: So good to watch @YUVSTRONG12 back in with a 50! But @RishabPant777 ‘s 1 handed six & the flicks of the leg. Simply Pant-astic! #MIvsDC @DelhiCapitals — Saiyami Kher (@SaiyamiKher) March 24, 2019 @RishabPant777’s spectacular knock has been the difference between the two teams in a high scoring match. Can’t think how #MI bowlers could have stopped him. Breathtaking hitting — Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) March 24, 2019 Afraid #MI outplayed today. Pant's innings the difference. — Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 24, 2019 Just how good is Rishabh Pant. And yes, he’s worth investing in. #MIvDC #IPL — Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 24, 2019 You watch Rabada & suddenly you realise what real excellence is! He is such a gift to world cricket! 👏👏👏🙏🙏🙏 — Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) March 24, 2019 Woaaaaah. Pant brings out the helicopter 🚁 takatakatakataka 🙌 — Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) March 24, 2019 Delhi becomes the first team to beat Mumbai Indians for the 12th time in IPL history… — Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) March 24, 2019<doc-sep>
Mumbai: Three-time champions Mumbai Indians will start their Indian Premier League campaign against Delhi Capitals at Wankhede stadium on Sunday. Mumbai Indians failed to reach playoffs last season, and they reinforced their squad by welcoming back Lasith Malinga in the auction and also bought Yuvraj Singh. Later they included Jayant Yadav and Quinton de Kock traded from Delhi and Royal Challengers Bangalore. Former India and Mumbai Indians pacer Zaheer Khan has joined the team management as Director Cricket Operations. However, Mumbai have been hit badly in pace department as three foreign pacers Malinga, Adam Milne and Jason Behrendorff are yet to arrive. All three are unlikely to figure in their initial part of the campaign. Delhi have changed their owners, name from Delhi Daredevils to Delhi Capitals in bid to gain their first title. Khan’s former skipper in the Indian team Sourav Ganguly has joined the franchise as advisor and he is closely working with coach Ricky Ponting. “Sourav has been a good inclusion to our set-up. He has been in an advisory role and has been with the team in practice sessions,” Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting said. Delhi have never been in the final despite topping the league in the second edition when opening pair of Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag kept them going. This time they have Shikhar Dhawan back after 2008, after he was traded from Sunrisers Hyderabad. He will form the formidable opening pair with youngster Prithvi Shaw. Another local boy besides Shaw, Shreyas Iyer will lead the side and will be key at the top to leave a platform to big hitters like Rishabh Pant and Colin Ingram. Mumbai have been poor starters they will look to be consistent through out. They will also look for good starts from Suryakumar Yadav and Evin Lewis like last year. Skipper Rohit Sharma remains the key at the top with Yuvraj Singh’s inclusion adding experience in the middle order with allrounders Kieron Pollard and Pandya brothers (Hardik and Krunal) to follow. Jasprit Bumrah will lead the attack. Mitchell McClenaghan has picked crucial wickets for them alongwith allrounder Hardik Pandya. Rookies Barinder Saran, Rasikh Dar add more options in pace department. Leggie Mayank Markande who broke into Indian T20 squad recently will like to carry forward last season exploits.