After making a timely return for the second leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, premier batsman Shreyas Iyer was in speculations about taking over the reins from Rishabh Pant as the captain of the Delhi Capitals (DC) for the remainder of the 14th season. On Thursday, last year’s runners-up and current table-toppers Delhi Capitals have confirmed that the Indian southpaw will remain the leader of the Delhi-based franchise for the UAE leg of the cash-rich league.

In an official release, the Delhi Capitals franchise, which is owned by the JSW-GMR group has announced that Pant will continue as the captain for the remainder of the 2021 season. Pant-led Delhi Capitals are at the top of the IPL 2021 points table with 6 wins from 8 matches. The Ricky Ponting-coached side will lock horns with Sunrisers Hyderabad on the 22nd of September which will be their first fixture of the second leg in the UAE. 

Pant had replaced Iyer as the captain of the Delhi Capitals franchise before the start of the 14th season. Since Iyer had to undergo shoulder surgery, Pant had succeeded the premier batsman as Delhi’s full-time captain. Iyer was earlier appointed the leader of the Delhi-based franchise in the 2018 season of the IPL.

It was under skipper Iyer that Delhi Capitals managed to end their forgetful run in the IPL. Under Iyer’s leadership, Delhi Capitals made it to their maiden IPL final in the previous season. DC also made it to the business end of the competition for the first time since 2012 during Iyer’s maiden captaincy stint. As Delhi’s captain, the former skipper had won 21 matches from 41 matches. 

While Iyer has returned to the fold, the Delhi Capitals recently confIrmed that left-arm orthodox bowler Manimaran Siddharth has been ruled out of the UAE leg. Left-arm pacer Kulwant Khejroliya was earlier been named Siddharth’s replacement for the remainder of the season.