Sehwag steps down as Delhi Daredevils captain

Virender Sehwag has stepped down as captain of Delhi Daredevils, the franchise said on Monday. Sehwag, who is recovering from a shoulder injury, said he wanted to focus on his batting. Gautam Gambhir will lead Delhi in next month's Champions League Twenty20, and is expected to remain captain in next year's IPL, with wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik as his deputy.

"I would like to thank GMR [the franchise owners] for their understanding in accepting my request to step down," Sehwag said. "Personally, I would like to concentrate on my own batting and contribute to the team."

Sehwag - who recently had said he had no desire to lead India - informed the franchise of his decision immediately after the IPL's second edition in May this year. But given the team's great success in the tournament - they topped the league table and lost to eventual champions Deccan Chargers in the semi-final - the owners believed the decision was impulsive and decided to give him more time.

"We thought he [Sehwag] had made a statement in the heat of the moment," a team official told Cricinfo. "We consulted him once again, about a month later. He stuck to his stand. So after deliberations we started to look for a successor and zeroed in on Gambhir."

Sehwag, 30, welcomed the franchise's decision to appoint Gambhir as his replacement because he felt his long-time Delhi and India opening partner had shown great leadership abilities in the past. Gambhir has an aggressive and thinking mind and brought the same attributes to his captaincy when Delhi won the Ranji Trophy under his leadership in 2007, and during the second edition of the IPL, when he was in charge during the few games that Sehwag sat out.

"Gautam did a great job of captaining Delhi and also during IPL 2 in South Africa this year," Sehwag said. "He has shown very good leadership skills and will bring fresh energy into the Delhi Daredevils."

Gambhir, on his part, said he would draw from his experience of leading Delhi on the domestic circuit. "I am delighted at my selection as captain of Delhi Daredevils and I am committed to deliver my best," Gambhir said. "I have led Delhi in the past and it was an enriching experience. Hopefully, I can put into practice all that I have learnt.

"I have always looked up to Viru [Sehwag]. He has been a guide and friend for me. It is always difficult to fit into the shoes of someone as illustrious as him. I can always turn to him for any advice, as also to the other seniors in the team. We have had great camaraderie in the side and this will help us reach greater heights."

Gambhir had a spectacular last season with the bat and has been shortlisted for the ICC Cricketer of the Year and the Test Player of the Year awards.

Sehwag, on the other hand, returned to action on Sunday for the first time after the shoulder injury, which he picked up during IPL 2 - one which forced him to miss the World Twenty20, the ODI series in West Indies, tri-series in Sri Lanka and the forthcoming Champions Trophy in South Africa. Unfortunately, he failed to score, while leading Mukesh Ambani's Reliance I in the JP Atray corporate tournament in Mohali.