Delhi Capitals’ Biggest Mistake: Letting AB de Villiers, Travis Head & Abhishek Sharma Go
Delhi Capitals once had AB de Villiers, Travis Head, and Abhishek Sharma but failed to retain them. Discover how these stars thrived elsewhere while Delhi kept struggling in the IPL.
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Delhi Capitals’ Biggest Blunder: Letting Go of AB de Villiers, Travis Head & Abhishek Sharma
Prelude: A Legacy of Missed Opportunities
Delhi Capitals, formerly known as Delhi Daredevils, was once a franchise full of promise. Back in the late 2000s and early 2010s, the team had a solid core of players, a strong brand identity, and one of the best jerseys in the league. The red and blue jersey with the fierce Daredevil logo perfectly matched the team’s aggressive intent. Even the name “Delhi Daredevils” had a unique charm that resonated with fans. However, despite these strengths, the franchise developed a habit of failing to retain world-class players, a decision that cost them dearly over the years.
Among the many mistakes, the biggest blunders were not retaining or utilizing AB de Villiers, Travis Head, and Abhishek Sharma, three players who went on to make a massive impact elsewhere.
The AB de Villiers Blunder
Back in 2008, Delhi Daredevils had one of the most exciting young batters in their squad—AB de Villiers. He was not yet the global superstar he would become, but his talent was evident. In 2009, he even scored a magnificent 105 off 54 balls* against Chennai Super Kings, proving his potential as a match-winner. However, after just three seasons, Delhi released him.
What happened next? Royal Challengers Bangalore signed him, and AB went on to become an IPL legend, one of the greatest match-winners in T20 history. Had Delhi retained him, they might have built their team around him, possibly securing their first IPL title.
Travis Head: The Unused Weapon
Another shocking mistake was how Delhi acquired Travis Head but never played him. Long before he became a World Cup-winning hero for Australia, Head was already a promising talent.
2012 U-19 World Cup: He was part of the Australian squad that lost the final to India, where Unmukt Chand scored a century.
2015 IPL Auction: Delhi Daredevils signed him, but he never got a single game.
2016 BBL Heroics: He smashed a stunning 101* off 53 balls for Adelaide Strikers, proving he was a match-winner.
Despite his explosive batting, Delhi ignored him, and RCB picked him up later. Fast forward to 2023, Head was the Player of the Match in both the WTC Final and the ODI World Cup Final, proving that Delhi failed to see his true potential.
Abhishek Sharma: A Future Star Let Go Too Soon
Delhi has also had a habit of signing young Indian talents but failing to retain them. One of the biggest examples is Abhishek Sharma.
He was part of Delhi’s squad in 2018 but was traded to Sunrisers Hyderabad after just one season.
Since then, he has transformed into a fearless opening batter, smashing quick runs in the powerplay and developing into a match-winner.
In the 2024 IPL season, he had a strike rate of over 200, showing the kind of explosiveness Delhi desperately needs but let slip away.
Other Big Players Delhi Daredevils Lost
Apart from these three, Delhi Daredevils/Capitals have made a habit of releasing great players who became stars elsewhere. Here’s a list of some of the biggest names they had but failed to retain properly:
Batters & All-Rounders:
David Warner – Released after 2013, later won the IPL title with SRH.
Glenn Maxwell – Delhi picked him in 2012 before anyone knew his talent but let him go.
Andre Russell – Played for Delhi in 2012-13 but never got a real chance; later became a KKR superstar.
Kevin Pietersen – Was Delhi’s captain, but they dropped him after just one season.
Quinton de Kock – Another wicketkeeper-batter they lost, who later won an IPL with Mumbai Indians.
Mayank Agarwal – Spent years in Delhi’s squad but never got enough chances.
Manish Pandey – Had the potential but never got a long run.
Bowlers:
Pat Cummins – Delhi had him in 2017 but let him go. He is now an IPL captain and World Cup-winning captain.
Kagiso Rabada – One of their best pacers, but they didn’t retain him.
Mohammed Shami – Was with Delhi but wasn’t retained, later became one of India’s best pacers.
Morne Morkel – Key bowler for Delhi but later left.
Trent Boult – A great swing bowler, but Delhi failed to utilize him properly.
What Went Wrong with Delhi?
Failure to Retain Core Players – Unlike successful teams like CSK and MI, who built their squads around key players, Delhi constantly changed its squad, preventing stability.
Lack of Patience – Many players need time to develop, but Delhi never waited long enough.
Frequent Leadership Changes – Too many captains over the years led to a lack of direction.
Brand Identity Lost – Even the rebranding from Delhi Daredevils to Delhi Capitals took away the charm. The old logo, name, and jersey were much better and had a cult following.
Conclusion: A Franchise That Could Have Been Great
Delhi Daredevils had everything needed to become an IPL dynasty—big names, young talents, and match-winners. However, poor retention policies and lack of long-term vision cost them dearly. AB de Villiers, Travis Head, and Abhishek Sharma are just a few examples of players who could have made Delhi an IPL-winning franchise, but instead, they succeeded elsewhere.
Unless Delhi learns from its past mistakes and starts investing wisely in its players, they might continue to struggle in their quest for an IPL title. The question remains—will Delhi Capitals finally break the cycle, or will they keep repeating history?