Delhi Capitals (DC) were one of the most successful teams in the league stage of IPL 2021 as they ended up at the top of the points table with 20 points to their name. But, unfortunately, the Delhi-based franchise could not continue their winning run in the playoffs.

DC lost both the qualifiers against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) respectively and was knocked out of the tournament.

The swashbuckling wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant was handed the captaincy of DC as regular captain Shreyas Iyer was ruled out of the tournament in the first leg of IPL 2021. After some tactical blunders in some matches, there were a lot of question marks on Rishabh Pant’s leadership.

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While many experts backed the 24-year-old Pant to lead their side in next year’s IPL, the former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir in his recent interaction with ESPNCricinfo, suggested a new captain to this Delhi side in veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

“Look, I'm one of his biggest fans and he's one of the best spinners in the world. If you look at the overall line-up, it may be a bizarre call maybe and only I can think about this... but if I was there, I would like to make him the captain of Delhi Capitals next year,” Gambhir said.

Gambhir’s former India opening partner Virender Sehwag on the other hand had backed the Delhi-based Rishabh Pant to take over the captaincy role if DC fail to find a better candidate in the mega auction before IPL 2022.

“DC should absolutely retain Rishabh Pant. But regarding captaincy, we don't know which players the franchise will be able to buy in the auctions. So depending on that, if they get a better option to lead the team, then it is okay, but if they don't, then they already have Pant, who has learnt a lot this season,” Sehwag told Cricbuzz.

(With Cricbuzz and ESPNCricinfo Inputs)