IPL 2021 Playoffs: Rishabh Pant set for captaincy record – Delhi Capitals (DC) captain Rishabh Pant will create history when he walks up to the toss for the Qualifier 1 against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Sunday. The wicketkeeper thus will become the youngest to lead a team in a playoff fixture. Pant, who was appointed as skipper this season has impressed everyone with his leadership skills, as Delhi topped the standings making it to their third consecutive playoffs.
IPL 2021 Playoffs: Rishabh Pant set to become the youngest captain in playoffs, ahead of ex-DC skipper Shreyas Iyer
DC vs CSK Qualifier 1: Rishabh Pant will become the youngest to lead a side in a playoff game at 24y & 6d while MS Dhoni will become the second player aged above 40 to lead a side in a playoff game, after Rahul Dravid in 2013. Pant overtakes his predecessor Shreyas Iyer to the record, who had assumed the captaincy of the Capitals in 2018 and led them to the playoffs in 2019.
DC vs CSK Qualifier 1: While Rishabh Pant will be the youngest to lead the team out in the playoffs, Iyer remains ahead as far as leading Delhi Capitals is concerned. Rishabh Pant was appointed captain this year after Iyer was ruled out with injury during Phase 1. While Iyer did return for the second Phase, Delhi persisted with Pant as captain after some impressive performances by the team under his leadership.
Youngest captains in IPL history
- Virat Kohli (22 years, 4 months and 6 days)
- Steve Smith (22 years, 11 months and 9 days)
- Shreyas Iyer (23 years, 3 months and 21 days)
- Suresh Raina (23 years, 3 months and 22 days)
- Rishabh Pant (23 years, 6 months and 6 days)
IPL 2021 Playoffs: Rishabh Pant set to become the youngest captain in playoffs, ahead of ex-DC skipper Shreyas Iyer
DC vs CSK Qualifier 1: Pant will be against the very best in the business on Sunday, as Delhi will look to make their second successive IPL final after last season’s heartbreak. While they haven’t lost to MS Dhoni and Co. in their last four meetings, the dismal playoff record and CSK’s vast experience in such situations makes them slight favourites for the contest. Both teams come into the clash on the back of defeats in their final league game, and it is a matter of who gets their wits together during Qualifier 1 in Dubai on Sunday.
