Delhi Capitals, formerly known as Delhi Daredevils, have been a part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) since the first season. DC are among the only five teams to have participated in all the editions of the league played thus far. However, they have never won the championship.
They made it to the final in 2020 but finished as runners-up in the end. Thrice in the Indian Premier League history, the Capitals have been the first team to be eliminated from the race to the playoffs first. The latest one is the ongoing IPL 2023, where the Capitals are currently 10th in the points table.
Delhi Capitals have failed to make an impact this year because they are too over-reliant on their overseas batters. If their foreign batters, the team loses a majority of the matches. The Indian batters have not impressed much this season.
It is not that DC have never been able to sign top Indian batters. Here’s a list of four Indian batters whom Delhi released just before they hit their prime.
1. Delhi let go of Gautam Gambhir after IPL 2010
Gautam Gambhir was a part of the Delhi squad in the initial seasons. However, his home franchise did not retain him ahead of the 2011 mega auction. He then joined the Kolkata Knight Riders, became their captain and helped the Kolkata-based franchise win two titles.
2. Delhi let go of Sanju Samson after IPL 2017
Sanju Samson joined Delhi in 2016 after the Rajasthan Royals received a two-year suspension. Samson could have stayed at DC if the franchise officials wanted to, but the team management released him before the mega auction in 2018.
3. Abhishek Sharma
Youngster Abhishek Sharma made his debut for Delhi in the 2018 season. He scored 63 runs in just two innings and had an impressive strike rate as well. Yet, DC traded him to SRH just before the 2019 season started.
4. Shikhar Dhawan
A veteran player like Shikhar Dhawan could have been the backbone of DC’s batting lineup this season. He could have played some important knocks for the team. Yet, the team management did not go hard for him at the IPL 2022 Mega Auction and allowed Punjab Kings to sign him.
