Australian cricket star David Warner has been announced as the new captain of the Delhi Capitals for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. The franchise, co-owned by JSW-GMR, made the announcement on Thursday, with all-rounder Axar Patel named as the team's vice captain.
Warner, who previously served as the team's interim captain during his first stint with the franchise between 2009 and 2013, takes over from Rishabh Pant, who is currently recovering from injuries sustained in a car crash last year.
In a media release issued by the franchise, Warner expressed his excitement about returning to the Delhi Capitals, saying: "This franchise has always been home for me, and I couldn't be more excited to lead such a supremely talented bunch of players."
The Delhi Capitals have also appointed former India captain Sourav Ganguly as the team's Director of Cricket. Ganguly previously worked with the franchise as a mentor during the 2019 season.
The team's Chairman and co-owner, Parth Jindal, expressed his confidence in Warner's leadership, saying: "In Rishabh's absence, there couldn't have been a more apt candidate than David to lead the Delhi Capitals. With him as our leader, and Ricky and Dada overseeing all proceedings, I have no doubt that we are going to be the team to watch out for in the competition."
The IPL 2023 season begins on March 31, with the Delhi Capitals set to play their first match against the Lucknow Super Giants on April 1.