Delhi Capitals Owners – Who is the Owner of DC?

Delhi Capitals are one of the IPL’s original franchises, playing in the league since 2008. Unlike most teams owned by a single group, DC have a unique 50-50 joint ownership between two Indian business giants: the GMR Group and the JSW Group.

This article explains who owns Delhi Capitals, how the partnership works, the key people involved, the journey from Delhi Daredevils to Delhi Capitals, and the franchise’s global expansion. The joint ownership model is unique in the IPL and has shaped every major decision the franchise has made since 2018.

Delhi Capitals Ownership at a Glance

GMR Group: The Original Owners

The GMR Group, founded by Grandhi Mallikarjun Rao, bought the Delhi franchise in the original 2008 IPL auction and has owned it ever since. GMR is an infrastructure conglomerate with interests in airports, energy and highways, and its sports arm GMR Sports runs the cricket operations.

For the first decade, the team played as the Delhi Daredevils. Despite having stars like Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, AB de Villiers and Kevin Pietersen over the years, the Daredevils never reached an IPL final, earning a reputation as the league’s great underachievers.

JSW Group Buys 50 Percent in 2018

In March 2018, JSW Sports, the sports arm of Sajjan Jindal’s JSW Group, acquired a 50 percent stake in the franchise for a reported 550 crore rupees (around 70 million dollars at the time). The deal valued the Delhi team at roughly 140 million dollars.

Parth Jindal, who leads JSW’s sports business, became the energetic public face of the new partnership. Known for his hands-on involvement in auctions and team strategy, he brought fresh ambition and professional sports management experience from JSW’s other ventures, which include the Bengaluru FC football club and the Inspire Institute of Sport.

The equal partnership was unusual in the IPL, where single-owner structures dominate. Both groups agreed to joint decision-making on cricket matters, with GMR handling much of the legacy operations and JSW driving the commercial and strategic refresh. The model has held steady since 2018 without public disputes, a rarity in franchise sport.

From Daredevils to Capitals

In December 2018, the new ownership announced a complete rebrand: Delhi Daredevils became Delhi Capitals. The owners said the new name reflected the team’s identity as the capital city’s team and marked a fresh start.

The rebrand worked. With Ricky Ponting as head coach and Shreyas Iyer as a young captain, the Capitals reached the playoffs in 2019, their first playoff appearance in seven years. The turnaround was credited to smarter auctions, a strong Indian core and the stability of the new joint ownership.

The 2020 Final: DC’s Best Season

Delhi Capitals enjoyed their finest season in 2020, when the tournament was played in the UAE. Led by Shreyas Iyer and powered by Shikhar Dhawan, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje, DC finished second in the league stage and beat Sunrisers Hyderabad in the second qualifier to reach their first ever IPL final.

In the final in Dubai, they lost to the mighty Mumbai Indians, but reaching the title clash was a landmark for a franchise that had spent a decade in the wilderness. Rabada finished as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 30 wickets.

The 2020 campaign also showcased the franchise’s development pathway. Young Indian players like Prithvi Shaw and emerging bowlers played fearless cricket, while experienced heads such as Shikhar Dhawan, who scored back-to-back centuries that season, provided stability. The owners’ investment in a world-class support staff under Ricky Ponting was widely credited for the transformation.

The Capitals’ Global Network

Like other IPL franchises, the Delhi Capitals owners have expanded globally. The group owns the Pretoria Capitals in South Africa’s SA20 league and the Dubai Capitals in the UAE’s ILT20.

The shared identity, scouting systems and coaching philosophies across the three teams give the group a year-round presence in franchise cricket and a wider talent pipeline.

Home Ground: Arun Jaitley Stadium

The Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, formerly known as the Feroz Shah Kotla, has been the team’s home since 2008. One of India’s oldest cricket grounds, it is known for slow, turning pitches that have traditionally suited the Capitals’ spin-heavy attacks.

The owners have worked with the DDCA on facility upgrades, and packed crowds for big matches against teams like Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings create one of the league’s best atmospheres.

The ground’s history adds to its charm. It hosted its first Test in 1948, and Sunil Gavaskar scored his record-breaking 29th Test century here. For the Capitals, the slow Kotla surface has often been a tactical weapon, with spinners like Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav thriving in home conditions over the years.

Captains of Delhi Capitals

Virender Sehwag was the franchise’s first icon and captain, followed by Gautam Gambhir and later Rahul Dravid in mentoring roles. The modern era began with Shreyas Iyer’s appointment in 2018, and Rishabh Pant led the side from 2021 after Iyer’s injury.

In 2025, Axar Patel took over the captaincy, continuing the franchise’s policy of backing its long-serving Indian core.

The captaincy history mirrors the franchise’s journey: early years built around Sehwag’s star power, a transitional phase with Gambhir and Dravid providing leadership, and the modern era’s bet on youth with Iyer, Pant and now Axar. Few IPL teams have invested as consistently in young Indian leaders as Delhi.

FAQs

Who is the owner of Delhi Capitals?

Delhi Capitals are jointly owned 50-50 by the GMR Group and the JSW Group. Kiran Kumar Grandhi represents GMR as chairman, while Parth Jindal represents JSW.

When did JSW buy a stake in Delhi Capitals?

JSW Sports bought a 50 percent stake in the franchise in March 2018 for a reported 550 crore rupees, after which the team was rebranded from Delhi Daredevils to Delhi Capitals.

Why was Delhi Daredevils renamed Delhi Capitals?

The new joint ownership rebranded the team in December 2018 to mark a fresh start and to reflect the team’s identity as the capital city’s franchise.

Have Delhi Capitals ever won the IPL?

No. Delhi Capitals’ best result is reaching the IPL final in 2020, where they lost to Mumbai Indians in Dubai.

Which other teams do the Delhi Capitals owners own?

The group owns the Pretoria Capitals in South Africa’s SA20 and the Dubai Capitals in the UAE’s ILT20.

Who is the captain of Delhi Capitals?

Axar Patel became Delhi Capitals captain in 2025, succeeding Rishabh Pant.