IPL 2023: David Warner to lead Delhi Capitals in Rishabh Pant absence, Axar Patel to be his deputy, Follow LIVE Updates

IPL 2023: Delhi Capitals Captaincy – David Warner will lead Delhi Capitals in absence of Rishabh Pant. Warner was always the frontrunner to lead DC in IPL 2023. He did suffered an elbow fracture but DC management is hopeful for his return on time. Warner fractured his elbow following a Mohammed Siraj bouncer in the IND vs AUS 2nd Test in Delhi. Delhi Capitals begin their campaign against Lucknow Super Giants on April 1. Axar Patel will serve as the Aussie opener’s deputy. Follow IPL 2023 LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.

Pant is sidelined after the horrific car crash and will miss out on 8 months of cricketing action.

“David will be our captain and Axar Patel will be his deputy,” a member of the ownership group of DC was quoted by Cricbuzz.

Warner first suffered a concussion that ruled him out of the Delhi Test. After further scans, it was revealed that the Australian opener had fractured his elbow after being hit by a Siraj bouncer. It does not just rule him out of the last two Tests and three-match ODI series, it also makes him doubtful for the start of IPL 2023. But nonetheless, DC think tank has shown faith in him.

David Warner has a small and undisplaced hairline fracture in his arm. It gives you an idea of the guts he showed to bat on yesterday. He’s as tough as they come. #INDvAUS

— Andrew Wu (@wutube) February 18, 2023

IPL 2023: David Warner to lead Delhi Capitals in Rishabh Pant’s absence, Axar Patel to be his deputy, Injured Aussie opener hopeful for return on time, Follow LIVE Updates

IND vs AUS: David Warner RULED OUT of Border Gavaskar Trophy with concussion & fractured elbow after Siraj BOUNCER, Renshaw confirmed as substitute – Follow LIVE Updates

While Warner could still be available for the start of IPL but with the World Test Championship Final on the horizon, he may not get a rushed return. Australia are likely to seal their place in the WTC Final against India on June 7.

Hence, Australia will not risk his return soon with way too many injuries already making things difficult for the team. Australia currently has a long list of injuries including still unfit Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc besides Josh Hazlewood and Glenn Maxwell.

Delhi Capitals 2 BIG DECISIONS:

With Rishabh Pant ruled out, Delhi Capitals was facing two big decisions.
1. Who will captain the team in IPL 2023? 2. Who will keep in Pant’s absence?
David Warner has solved one problem for DC.
Phil Salt will keep and take the opening spot.
Rovman Powell, Axar Patel, Prithvi Shaw, and Mitchell Marsh were the options for DC for vice-captaincy.
And it was Axar Patel who bagged the spot as deputy.
However, it will be difficult to fit both Marsh and Powell into the team.
Considering Anrich Nortje and Phil Salt as the guaranteed starters, DC will need someone like Rilee Rossouw in the middle to command the innings.
If that happens, only one of Powell and Marsh will be able to play.
Sarfaraz Khan is the other wicketkeeping option but DC will have to find an opener to fit both all-rounders.
But Sarfaraz hasn’t established himself in T20s and neither he keeps wickets regularly.
However, Sarfaraz is keeping in the nets during the off-season to keep him ready for the option.

IPL 2023: David Warner to lead Delhi Capitals in Rishabh Pant’s absence, Axar Patel to be his deputy, Injured Aussie opener hopeful for return on time, Follow LIVE Updates

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rishabh Pant (@rishabpant)

DC’s new director of cricket Sourav Ganguly and head coach Ricky Ponting will pick the replacement for Rishabh Pant. A decision is expected in the next two weeks.

“If he’s (Rishabh) actually not physically fit enough to play, we’d still love to have him around. He’s the sort of cultural leader around the group, being the captain, and that attitude and infectious smile and laugh he has is what we all love so much about him. If he’s actually able to travel and be around the team, then I want him sitting beside me in the dugout every day of the week,” Ponting said of Pant missing the IPL.

Delhi Capitals Full Squad: Rishabh Pant (Ruled Out), David Warner, Prithvi Shaw, Ripal Patel, Rovman Powell, Sarfaraz Khan, Yash Dhull, Mitchell Marsh, Lalit Yadav, Axar Patel, Anrich Nortje, Chetan Sakariya, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Khaleel Ahmed, Lungi Ngidi, Mustafizur Rahman, Aman Khan, Kuldeep Yadav, Praveen Dubey, Vicky Ostwal, Ishant Sharma, Phil Salt, Mukesh Kumar, Manish Pandey, Rilee Rossouw.

Delhi Capitals IPL 2023 Full Schedule