Delhi Capitals announce Axar Patel and Shreyas Iyer replacements

Delhi Capitals announced a short term replacement for all-rounder Axar Patel who got sidelined after being tested positive for COVID-19. Mumbai based 24 year old all-rounder Shams Zakir Mulani will take Axar’s place till his return. Mulani has a reputation as a big hitter and bowls left arm spin. He is a like to like replacement.

As per the IPL’s Player Regulation 6.1(c), a franchise can sign a short-term replacement of a player until the original squad member recovers and is permitted back to enter the bio-secure bubble. This replacement player will not to be allowed to represent any other IPL franchise this season even after the return of original squad member.

Hence, Mulani would be a part of Delhi Capitals’s squad until Axar Patel recovers and joins back the team. Mulani can only represent Delhi Capitals this season.

Meanwhile the Capitals also announced a replacement for Shreyas Iyer who is now ruled out of the entire tournament. 33 year old Karnataka all-rounder Aniruddha Joshi has been named in the place of the former skipper. Joshi was a part of IPL set up before as Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore signed him up in the past seasons but never got to play a game.

The loss of Shreyas Iyer comes as a big blow to the franchise but will find solace in the availability of top order batsmen in the form of Steven Smith and Ajinkya Rahane. Capitals won their first match against CSK but their middle order got exposed in their second fixture against Rajasthan Royals in which they faltered.