Shreyas Iyer’s name still echoes among Delhi Capitals fans and not without reason. The franchise reached its peak during his captaincy stint in 2020 when they played their maiden IPL final.
But since he left after the 2021 season, DC has looked like a team unsure of itself. While other franchises continue to evolve, DC's journey seems stuck in reverse, missing the playoffs year after year.
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Delhi Capitals under Shreyas Iyer's IPL captaincy
Between 2018 and 2020, Delhi Capitals looked like a different team altogether. Iyer captained 41 matches, out of which the team won 21. Under him, DC reached the playoffs twice and even went to the final once.
Let’s break down DC’s results in the league stage during the Shreyas Iyer captaincy years:
| Year | Position | Matches | Wins | Losses | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 8th | 14 | 5 | 9 | No |
| 2019 | 3rd | 14 | 9 | 5 | Yes |
| 2020 | 2nd | 14 | 8 | 6 | Finalist |
In 2021, Iyer sat out the first half with an injury. Rishabh Pant took charge and did quite well. Even when Iyer returned, he didn’t get the captaincy back.
DC finished at the top of the points table in the league stage. But they couldn’t go all the way, crashing out in the playoffs again.
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What has happened since Shreyas Iyer left DC?
Once Iyer moved to the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022, Delhi seemed to lose its rhythm. They have tried various strategies, different captains and shuffled combinations but nothing has clicked. Their playoff hopes have vanished every single year since his exit.
Here’s how DC have performed post-Iyer:
| Year | Captain | Wins | Losses | Points | Position | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Rishabh Pant | 7 | 7 | 14 | 5th | No |
| 2023 | Rishabh Pant | 5 | 9 | 10 | 9th | No |
| 2024 | Rishabh Pant | 7 | 7 | 14 | 6th | No |
| 2025 | Axar Patel | 6 | 6 | 13 | 5th | No |
What went wrong with Delhi Capitals in 2025?
There were high hopes again. Delhi Capitals' 2025 campaign had moments of brilliance, but inconsistency returned to haunt them.
The team had star names like KL Rahul, who scored heavily, including a century. But frequent changes in the top order, an unsettled bowling attack after Starc’s exit and poor finishes cost them crucial games.
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The breaking point came on May 21 when they were crushed by Mumbai Indians. Chasing 181, DC were bundled out for 121. That loss confirmed their exit from the playoff race.