IPL 2023: Who can replace Rishabh Pant as the Captain of Delhi Capitals in the 16th Season of IPL

In the 16th season of IPL, five players can potentially replace Rishabh Pant as the captain of Delhi Capitals. Rishabh Pant had a car accident in December 2022, which left everyone in shock and disappointment. Due to this unfortunate incident, the wicketkeeper-batsman will not be able to play for at least 6-8 months, including the 16th season of IPL.

Delhi Capitals, like the Indian team, will be missing their star player. The crucial question now is who will step up and take over the role of captain for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2023.

In this piece, we have identified five players who can potentially take over the role of captain from Rishabh Pant for IPL 2023. The players listed may have their own methods of managing resources such as bowling changes and field placements, as well as their own on-field capabilities.

Their adept decision-making abilities have made them contenders to assume the leadership role of the team for the upcoming season. Let’s take a closer look at these five players who Delhi Capitals’ team management and franchise owners can rely on in the absence of Rishabh Pant.

David Warner

The dynamic Australian opener, who previously led Sunrisers Hyderabad to the IPL title in 2016, is currently facing a slump in form. The 35-year-old left-hander is expected to make a comeback soon. Warner has also had a brief stint as captain of the Australian team. In terms of his captaincy in the IPL, we have already witnessed his leadership skills in 2016.

David Warner possesses a clever aptitude for reading the game situation and devising plans based on the opposition’s weaknesses. He also has the ability to bring out the best in an average player.

Axar Patel

The left-arm off-spinner may come as a surprise addition to our list, but the 28-year-old has been playing in the IPL for the past 9 seasons, which has likely honed his decision-making abilities during crucial situations. Axar has taken 101 wickets and scored 1135 runs with the bat in 122 IPL matches.

Playing for Delhi Capitals for the sixth consecutive season, the all-rounder has gained a wealth of experience that could make him a suitable candidate to lead the team, depending on their resources. Ultimately, however, the decision rests with the Delhi Capitals’ team management and franchise owners.

Manish Pandey

The skipper from Karnataka has significant experience leading his state side to several memorable Ranji Trophy and domestic titles. The 33-year-old has exhibited exceptional maturity in his man-management skills while leading Karnataka in domestic cricket.

Leading Delhi Capitals will be a test of his temperament, but he has already played under the captaincy of notable players such as Anil Kumble, Gautam Gambhir, and David Warner. His experiences playing under these leaders would have been a valuable learning process, and he can potentially leverage this experience to good effect.

Mitchell Marsh

The Australian has demonstrated his productivity as both an all-rounder and a captain in the past. Marsh led the Australian under-19 team to a win in the 2010 under-19 world cup, and he has also led Western Australia to several notable victories in domestic cricket, as well as the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League.

With his captaincy on the field and in the dressing room, the 31-year-old is expected to bring a lot of aggression and intensity. However, the final decision still lies with the team management and franchise owners.

Prithvi Shaw

In the 2018 under-19 world cup final, Prithvi led India to victory and was also the captain of Mumbai when the team reached the final of the 2021-22 Ranji Trophy season. At 23 years old, he is considered captaincy material and is capable of making bold decisions. However, his mental toughness will be tested when playing against seasoned captains such as MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma.

The team management can take a chance by keeping long-term planning in mind, but it all depends on how the Mumbai player is groomed through a certain process.

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