IPL franchise Delhi Daredevils renamed and relaunched as Delhi Capitals

IPL 2019: IPL franchise Delhi Daredevils was renamed and relaunched on Tuesday as Delhi Capitals. The new logo of the franchise has three Tigers and a Rashtrapati Bhavan like dome on top of it.

This is the day and age where changing the name of a city is perceived to change their political fortunes. So what's wrong with trying the same trick with a cricket franchise? Precisely why IPL team Delhi Daredevils changed Tuesday evening to Delhi Capitals. Yes. Delhi Capitals. Sounds great, right? 

The looks matter as well... There are now three Tigers on the logo and a Rashtrapati Bhavan like dome on top of it. 

This is new Delhi, and that is precisely what Gaurav Kapur the host wanted each one to believe as Kiran Gandhi of GMR and Parth Jindal of JSW posed together at the launch function. 

"Delhi is the capital city, so the name has to be synonymous. When you look at the logo..there is Rashtrapati, the tiger is national animal and there are three because its similar to Ashok Chakra... so the Tigers are going to attack, explained  Parth Jindal. 

"This is a refreshing change, looking forward to the new journey and you can't get a better name and colours are same as GMR and JSW, so it reflects our joint venture,” said Gandhi. 

Mohammad Kaif is well qualified to talk about all of this. Hailing from Allahabad and briefly flexing himself in politics before he returned to his area of expertise -- he is now the assistant coach of Delhi Capitals and has come straight from Allahabad for the event. "Its Prayagraj now," he corrects. There is a lot in the name, after all. 

In a host of changes though it was refreshing to know that there was no change in the leader of the side. Shreyas Iyer, who replaced Gautam Gambhir as captain in the middle of last season, will continue to lead the franchise for the upcoming season.

Messages and well wishes poured in from all quarters, including from Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer and Shikhar Dhawan, who was traded from Hyderabad this season. 

"I am excited and looking to play for Delhi this season. I am coming back after 11 years and it's a great feeling," he said in a recorded message. 

So a new name, new jersey, new logo...will Delhi Daredevils... Oops, Delhi Capitals get a new result? The IPL auction on December 18 will give a fair bit of idea about it. So will it be a Capital gain for the franchise? The owners think that way.