Team Delhi has replaced their skipper Shreyas Iyer with Anirudha Joshi for the remainder of the Indian T20 League season. Iyer had sustained an injury during India’s ODI series against England last month and was ruled out of this edition of the tournament.
Losing Iyer was a huge blow for Team Delhi especially after his brilliant performance last season when his tally of 518 runs at a strike rate of 123.27 contributed significantly to their run to the final.
Middle-order batsman Anirudha Joshi, who comes as a like for like replacement for Shreyas Iyer, has previously played for Rajasthan and Bangalore. The Karnataka batsman is experienced as well, having played 17 List A and 22 T20 matches so far.
Delhi have also replaced their bowling all-rounder Axar Patel with Shams Mulani on a short-term basis. Patel was fully fit for the Indian T20 League 2021 season before he tested Covid-19 positive on March 28 and had to enter BCCI’s medical facility for isolation and treatment.
Patel has also been instrumental for both Delhi and the national team. While Patel has 913 runs and 80 wickets in the Indian T20 League over the past seven seasons, his debut Test series came earlier this year against England where the all-rounder had scalped 27 wickets in three matches.
His replacement Mulani is also a left-handed batsman as well as a slow left-arm orthodox bowler. The all-rounder is a Mumbai player who has already played 10 First-Class, 30 List A and 25 T20 matches so far.
Mulani will be a temporary presence in the Delhi camp till Axar Patel returns but as per protocols, the player won’t be able to play for another Indian T20 League franchise this season even after he leaves Team Delhi.
Apart from Axar Patel, the latest name to test Covid-19 positive for Team Delhi has been their star fast bowler Anrich Nortje. He had travelled to India on April 6, along with compatriot Kagiso Rabada and had entered the hotel with a negative result. However, his second result has come positive ahead of Delhi's clash with Rajasthan.
Feature Image Courtesy: AFP/ Noah Seelam
