New Delhi: Veteran South African batter Faf du Plessis has been appointed as the vice-captain of Delhi Capitals (DC) for the upcoming 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, the franchise announced on Monday via its social media channels.
In a video shared by DC, du Plessis expressed his excitement about the new role:
“You mean right now? I’m at home, where else would I be? Yes, that’s true, I’m vice-captain of DC, and I’m very excited. Delhi’s been great, the boys have been fantastic—I definitely feel happy and ready.”
A Key Addition to Delhi’s Leadership Group
Delhi Capitals acquired du Plessis at his base price of ₹2 crore during last year’s mega auction in Jeddah, following his release from Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). His appointment as vice-captain ensures him a key role in DC’s playing XI, where he will assist captain Axar Patel in crucial on-field and strategic decisions.
With extensive leadership experience—including captaining South Africa at the international level and leading RCB from 2022 to 2024—du Plessis brings valuable expertise to DC’s leadership group.
A Proven Leader and Consistent Performer
During his tenure as RCB captain, du Plessis led the team in 42 matches, securing 21 wins and 21 losses—a balanced win-loss ratio of 1.000. Under his leadership, RCB twice reached the playoffs but fell short in the Eliminator. Over the last five IPL seasons, he has been a prolific run-scorer, amassing 2,718 runs in 74 innings.
Delhi Capitals’ Revamped Coaching Staff
Du Plessis and Axar Patel will work closely with DC’s new-look coaching staff, which includes:
- Hemang Badani – Head Coach
- Venugopal Rao – Director of Cricket
- Munaf Patel – Bowling Coach
- Matthew Mott – Assistant Coach
- Kevin Pietersen – Mentor
- Gnaneswara Rao & Anton Roux – Fielding Coaches
DC’s IPL 2025 Campaign
Delhi Capitals will kick off their IPL 2025 season against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on March 24. The franchise remains one of the three IPL teams—alongside Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru—yet to win the coveted IPL trophy.
