IPL 2021: Suresh Raina Reacts To Rishabh Pant's Appointment As Delhi Capitals' Captain

Chennai Super Kings star batsman Suresh Raina had nothing but words of congratulations for Rishabh Pant, who was announced as Delhi Capitals’ captain for IPL 2021. Delhi Capitals owners Kiran Kumar Gandhi and Parth Jindal, along with head coach Ricky Ponting decided to appoint Rishabh Pant as the skipper. Suresh Raina took to his official Twitter handle and backed the keeper-batsman to be a talismanic leader.

Rishabh Pant’s appointment as captain came in the wake of Shreyas Iyer’s shoulder injury suffered in the first ODI against England in Pune. Pant, who was already the Delhi Capitals’ captain, was the frontrunner to lead in this case; however, he had potent rivals for the job. The likes of Steve Smith, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Ajinkya Rahane have significant captaincy experience. But the franchise selected the 23-year old for the task.

As for Suresh Raina, he congratulated Rishabh Pant on being appointed the captain of the Delhi Capitals. The 34-year old feels confident that the youngster would be a talismanic leader and wearing the captaincy badge with pride.

Below is Suresh Raina’s Twitter post:

Heartiest congratulations to @RishabhPant17 on being named the captain of @DelhiCapitals for this season. I am sure he will be a talismanic leader and will be donning this new cap with pride.?

— Suresh Raina?? (@ImRaina) March 30, 2021

Rishabh Pant has grown to be one of the impactful cricketers in recent times, delivering starring performances across formats. While the Delhi batsman was already a proven Test performer, he was also outstanding in the recently-concluded limited-overs series against England. Pant’s glovework has also improved significantly. Thus, he is undoubtedly one of the cricketers to look forward to.

The 23-year old, who joined the Delhi Capitals or Delhi Daredevils in 2016, said that this is where his journey began and it’s an absolute honour to lead them. He thanked the franchise owners for choosing him for performing the role and hopes that with the help of the accomplished seniors and coaching staff, he would be able to give his best.

“Delhi is where I grew up, and where my IPL journey began six years ago. To lead this team one day is a dream I’ve always harboured. And today, as that dream comes true, I feel humbled. I am truly grateful, especially to our team owners, who considered me capable enough for this role. With an amazing coaching staff, and a plethora of accomplished seniors around me, I can’t wait to give my absolute best for Delhi Capitals,” Pant said as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo.

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