There’s still a month left to the start of the 2nd phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 but a couple of teams have already landed in UAE. Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, two teams who are in UAE, have also completed their six-day isolation period.
Delhi Capitals (DC) will join them soon and will reportedly depart for UAE on Saturday (August 21). A fit-again Shreyas Iyer is already in UAE and has kicked off preparations for the season.
While the majority of players will land there by the end of the week, the franchise is yet to take a call on the captaincy. As per ANI, the franchise is still undecided about the all-important decision.
“Delhi Capitals will leave on Saturday early morning to UAE for IPL 2021. The team will leave from Delhi with domestic players and officials. Domestic players are already in quarantine in the national capital and they will be quarantined in UAE for a week. Post quarantine their camp will be starting,” a DC official was quoted as saying by ANI.
“The captain issue is still undecided, either it will be Pant or Iyer, the team management has not yet decided on this,” he added.
Iyer had taken over as DC’s captain during IPL 2018 and ended the franchise’s below-par run next year as it qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2012. DC continued their dream run and played the final of IPL 2020, where they lost to Mumbai Indians. Iyer looked set to lead the side in IPL 2021 but a shoulder injury ruled him out of the season. Rishabh was given the team’s charge in his absence.
DC continued their form under Rishabh and are sitting at the top spot in the table. The fact that both are young and can have a bright future with the franchise can make it tough for management to take a call.
A final call regarding captaincy is expected to be taken in the next few weeks. Rishabh is part of the Test squad against England and will land in UAE with other national players in September.