Delhi Capitals skipper David Warner along with head coach Ricky Ponting during a practice session ahead of the IPL 2023 cricket match against Rajasthan Royals, at ACA Stadium, Barsapara, in Guwahati.
| Photo Credit: ANI
Delhi Capitals are likely to have a much leaner coaching staff next season with head coach Ricky Ponting’s future set to be examined at the end of the season.
As far as David Warner is concerned, he has been the team’s highest run-getter and best performer and unless he himself wants to concentrate on batting alone, he will finish the season as skipper.
DC have already lost five games on the trot in the ongoing IPL and if they lose to Punjab Kings on Thursday, they will be the first team to be out of play-off contention with half a dozen defeats.
In fact, the men who matter in DC franchise have already understood that the aim for this season is to salvage pride and finish on a respectable note.
The Delhi Capitals coaching staff currently comprise Sourav Ganguly as Director of Cricket, Ponting (head coach), James Hopes (assistant coach), Ajit Agarkar (assistant coach), Shane Watson (assistant coach), Pravin Amre (assistant coach), Biju George (assistant coach).
“Obviously, nothing will happen mid-season but the poor result for two successive season will have its share of repercussions when JSW and GMR, the two co-owners sit back and take stock of the season,” an IPL source tracking the franchise told PTI on the condition of anonymity.
“So you will certainly not have this jumbo coaching staff next season for sure. There will be a few heads that might roll,” the source added.
The DC team was a formidable one till 2021 when they were regularly qualifying for play offs for a few seasons.
With Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Shimron Hetmyer, Marcus Stoinis, Axar Patel and R Ashwin batting from Nos 1 to 8, it bears a formidable look. The Nos 9, 10, 11 were Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada and Avesh Khan.
However, once mega auction was over, DC lost Dhawan, Hetmyer, Stoinis, Rabada and Iyer to name a few.
It’s a fact that the current Indian domestic line-up isn’t something to write home about.
Sarfaraz likely to replace Shaw as opener
The out-of-form Prithvi Shaw might be axed from the playing XI for the next game after an aggregate of 34 runs in five games with two ducks.
With not much options in bench, Sarfaraz Khan is a likely choice but he will have to then tackle the pace of Nathan Ellis in the powerplay.
DC were highly dependent on all-rounder Mitchell Marsh after a highly successful ODI series versus India, but form has deserted him.
Rillee Rossouw or Rovman Powell might replace him in the playing XI for the next game on April 20.
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