Appointed captain of the Delhi Capitals, David Warner says he has “big shoes to fill” in the absence of Rishabh Pant in the upcoming edition of the IPL.

Pant, the regular captain of the team, met with an accident in December last year and is currently undergoing rehab and recovery.

Axar Patel will be Warner’s deputy this season. Warner said they will be extra motivated to lift the title this time and they want to do it for Pant.

“We are motivated every season, but we are motivated even more to lift the title this year in your absence. We are going to be on the journey of your recovery with you. We are going to send some special messages and hopefully, you can come to one of our games,” Warner, who is currently in India as part of the touring Australia side, said in a statement issued by the franchise.

“On behalf of the DC family, I would like to wish you all the best and a speedy recovery. I am honoured to be named captain of the Delhi Capitals alongside Axar being named vice-captain. We have big shoes to fill.”

Delhi Capitals will face Lucknow Super Giants in their IPL 2023 season opener in an away game on April 1.

Seattle league tie-up

Delhi Capitals has joined hands with Microsoft chief executive officer Satya Nadella to own and “operate” the Seattle franchise in the Major League Cricket, a new T20 franchise league in the US.

The team has been named Seattle Orcas.

Written with inputs from PTI

3 T20Is in Ireland

Calcutta: India will play three T20Is in Ireland in August, Cricket Ireland confirmed on Friday. The series will be played from August 18-23 at Malahide.

Prior to hosting India, Ireland will play Bangladesh in a three-match ODI series in May in Chelmsford. The series, part of the ODI Super League, is crucial for Ireland as a 3-0 result will help them make the cut for the World Cup in India in October.

In case they fail to whitewash Bangladesh, Ireland will head to Zimbabwe in June-July to take part in the World Cup qualifiers.

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