Team Feature: Pretoria Capitals

The Delhi Daredevils Indian Premier League team became the Delhi Capitals in 2020.

In March 2018, the GMR Group, which bought the Delhi franchise in 2008, sold a 50 per cent stake to Jindal Sports Works for US$ 69 million. Originally the franchise had been bought for US$ 84 million.

The jointly owned team changed names with ownership. “Delhi is the power centre of the country, it is the capital, therefore the name Delhi Capitals.” Kiran Kumar Grandhi, co-owner of the team, said then. “The new name symbolizes Delhi's identity, and just like the city, we are aiming to be the centre of all action going forward.”

In 2009, when the IPL tournament moved to South Africa at the last moment, Delhi enjoyed its best run. Led by Gautam Gambhir, the left-hand batsman, they topped the table, with AB de Villiers hitting one of only two centuries in the tournament. But, at the first knockout hurdle, they were bested by Adam Gilchrist’s Deccan Chargers.

In the following years, Delhi employed the services of greats such as England’s Kevin Pietersen, Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene and New Zealand’s Ross Taylor, but they could not quite crack the formula to go all the way. In 2021, the Capitals announced Rishab Pant as their captain, hoping to herald a new era in how they play their cricket.

The new captain came after the management of the team had been taken over by Jindal Sports Works. The team is owned by Jindal Steel and Power, a part of the OP Jindal Group, which has large interests in steel, mining, and infrastructure. The conglomerate is the third largest private steel producer in India and manufactures and sells sponge iron, mild steel slabs, rails, mild steel, structural, hot rolled plates, iron ore pellets and coils.

Their involvement in the Delhi team in the IPL paved the way for their entry into South African cricket via the franchise route. When they chose to make their mark, the JSW team went straight for a local player who had been a part of their Delhi set-up.

“Anrich Nortje has been an integral part of the growth and success of Delhi Capitals. So when we decided to expand our cricketing footprint to his country, he was always going to be an automatic choice for us,” said Parth Jindal, Owner of Pretoria Capitals. “I believe Anrich will bring to Pretoria Capitals the same kind of fiery performances and off-field calmness we’ve seen him display at DC.”

The Pretoria Capitals backed up their desire to connect by signing up Migael Pretorius, the allrounder. The Waterkloof High School player who has been earmarked for big things will be an integral part of the PC set-up.

The team will be led by the experienced Wayne Parnell, who has more than 200 T20 games worldwide. “It’s a massive privilege to be able to lead the Pretoria Capitals. The management has trusted me to lead this team, and that’s pretty special,” he said. “I am looking forward to getting stuck in with the boys, and want to play a brand of cricket that is bold and fearless.”

The Pretoria Capitals will be coached by Graham Ford, who played first-class cricket for Natal but was also good enough to be a provincial tennis champion and represent them in football. Ford is a bigger name in coaching than playing, however, with impressive stints alongside South Africa and Sri Lanka.

Ford backed up Parnell’s instalment as captain: “Not only is he familiar with most of the players on our squad, having played with or against them quite extensively, but he’s also someone with a very dynamic outlook and personality, which I am confident will reflect in his leadership as well.”