In the history of the IPL, out of the eight original franchises which started way back in 2008, there is only one franchise that has not even reached the Final of the IPL and that is the Delhi Franchise.
Delhi Daredevils which is now known as Delhi Capitals started as one of the best teams in 2008 and 2009 but still couldn’t reach the Finals. They always had superstars in their team but for some reason, they haven’t managed to put up a winning team.
Let’s have a look at five IPL superstars who once played for the Delhi Franchise.
5. Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag was the captain of the Delhi franchise in 2008 in which they reached the semi-finals but lost to the eventual champions Rajasthan Royals. Sehwag has always been a great player in the IPL. He even played well for the Delhi franchise but somehow couldn’t manage to make his team win.
Sehwag and Warner opening in 2009 for the Delhi franchise was something to remember. Sehwag later went to play for KXIP and then eventually retired from the IPL. But in the early years, Delhi’s team was known as the team which had Virender Sehwag in it.
4. Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir was a part of the Delhi franchise from 2008 till 2010 and then again in 2018. He even captained the franchise in 2009 when they did well. Somehow the things didn’t go well between Gambhir and the management and he was released ahead of the 2011 mega auction and that’s when KKR picked him.
Gambhir will always be remembered for the way he led KKR and not how he played for the Delhi franchise. He came to Delhi in 2018 as he wanted to end his career with his home team but it didn’t go as planned as he stepped down from captaincy mid-way through the season due to poor performances.
The Delhi franchise didn’t manage Gambhir well or else he could have done wonders for the Delhi franchise.
3. Yuvraj Singh
Yuvraj Singh has been part of many franchises and Delhi is one of them. He was bought for a whopping 16 CR in the auction when Delhi got him. That is still the highest bid in an auction for any player.
Yuvraj Singh didn’t really perform to his potential and couldn’t justify the price tag. As a result, he was released ahead of the next year’s auction and he went to another a team. Yuvraj played only one season for the Delhi franchise.
2. Andre Russell
Andre Russell is currently the superstar of T20 cricket. He is the one player who everyone wants in the team was first picked by the Delhi franchise way back in 2012. He got to play 7 games in which he didn’t perform that well.
At that time Russell wasn’t the player we see know. But Delhi didn’t stick with him and just like other players he was released just after one season. Since then he has been with KKR and now he is the most valuable player in the T20 circuit around the world.
Delhi missed a trick by not sticking with a player like Andre Russell.
1. AB De Villiers
AB De Villiers who is Mr.360 was part of the Delhi franchise in 2008 till 2010. Just imagine the batting line up Delhi had and they still didn’t manage to reach the Final. ABD had played well for Delhi but still, they decided to release everyone except Sehwag ahead of the 2011 mega auction.
The Delhi franchise made a huge mistake by not retaining him as he can demolish any bowler in world cricket. We all have seen what he has done for Royal Challengers Bangalore. Delhi fans would have loved to see ABD playing for Delhi but that doesn’t seem possible anymore.
