Former Indian opener and Delhi Capitals skipper Gautam Gambhir, who last played in the Indian Premier League in 2018, might be back in the cash-rich league, but this time as a part-owner. If reports are to be believed, the left-hander, who is now a commentator and an MP from East Delhi, is in talks with the GMR Group and could buy around 10% of the shares in the side ahead of IPL 2020.
Currently, Delhi Capitals is co-owned by the GMR Group and the JSW Group, with both owning 50% shares in the franchise. JSW Group had paid INR 550 crore in 2018 to the GMR Group to come on board as part-owners. According to reports in Times of India, Gambhir will need to pay INR 100 crore to GMR Group to co-own the side. However, he is awaiting a NOC from the IPL Governing Council before he signs along the dotted lines.
Gambhir had initially played for Delhi in the IPL, before being released in 2011. He was then bought by Kolkata Knight Riders, a side where he tasted immense success. Not only did he become one of the best skippers in the IPL, but he also helped KKR shrug off an indifferent few years, and helped them to the title in 2012 and 2014.
However, just ahead of the 2018 IPL auctions, he conveyed his desire to go back to Delhi, following which KKR released him and made Dinesh Karthik their skipper. Gambhir, however, could not replicate his KKR success for Delhi, and indifferent results as batsman and captain meant that he was released after 2018. That was his last season as a player in the extravaganza.