Wanted record or an unwanted, we are not sure how folks at Delhi Capitals feel about their journey since 2008, which has been like a rollercoaster – sometimes high and at times, incredibly low
The Indian Premier League has witnessed numerous teams lifting the champions’ title. Unfortunately, a few teams, despite having great players, have yet to lift the trophy since the IPL’s inception in 2008. While Royal Challengers Bengaluru often becomes meme material every season, another team that has had a hard time with the IPL is the Delhi Capitals, formerly known as the Delhi Daredevils. Over the years, the team has been heavily inconsistent, finishing in every position of the IPL table.
Delhi Capitals, known as Delhi Daredevils, then finished at the top of the points table after the league stage both in 2009 and 2012. By virtue of that, they got two cracks at the final. Unfortunately for them, the team not only lost Qualifier 1 but Qualifier 2 as well on both occasions and finished in third place.
Delhi Capitals’ campaign may have lost a bit of steam in IPL 2020 with 4 defeats on the bounce towards the end of the league stage but the team gathered themselves with a victory against Royal Challengers Bangalore and not only qualified for the playoffs but finished on the 2nd spot.
IPL 2019 brought a resurgence for Delhi Capitals as under captain ShreyasIyer, who was named captain for a full season for the first time after taking over from Gautam Gambhir the last year, and coach Ricky Ponting, the team exceeded expectations and finished at the third spot in the points table after the league stage. After winning the Eliminator, Delhi was knocked out of the tournament in Qualifier 2.
Delhi Daredevils qualified for the playoffs in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2008 when they finished inside the top four. The team then lost in the Eliminator and was knocked out of the tournament.
In 2010, Delhi finished at the 5th spot in the points table and failed to qualify for the playoffs by a fine margin.
Delhi players discussing the game’s strategy during an IPL game
Two years in succession, 2016 and 2017 brought the same results for Delhi as they failed to qualify for the playoffs, finishing at the sixth spot. This brought about a change of personnel for the franchise, both in the team and behind the scenes.
In 2015, Delhi finished at the seventh spot in the points table after a poor show.
The wooden spoon was Delhi’s in 2014 and 2018, as the team finished at the bottom of the points table.
With ten teams in the IPL, after the inclusion of Pune Warriors India and Kochi Tuskers Kerala, Delhi were pushed further down the points table and finished at the 9th spot after the league stage in 2013.
2011 proved to be the worst IPL edition for the franchise as they came last in the group stage in a 10-match competition. However, they turned it around the next year to qualify for the playoffs.
