IPL 2023: Delhi Capitals lodge complaint after alleged theft of bats and players' equipment worth lakhs

David Warner's Delhi Capitals are the only win-less team in IPL 2023, as they have lost all five of their matches so far, and their miseries have been further compounded after reports emerged of several pieces of cricketing equipment missing from their kit bags. According to the report, bats, pads, shoes, thigh pads and gloves were stolen in transit from Bangalore to Delhi.

Delhi Capitals suffered their fifth successive loss of the season after they were beaten comprehensively by Royal Challengers Bangalore last week. While their performance was not up to the mark in their previous outing, the players were shocked to find equipment missing from their kit bags upon arrival to Delhi from Bangalore.

“All of them were shocked when they heard that everyone had lost something or the other from their kit bags. This is the first time such an incident has happened and the matter was soon raised to the logistics department, police and later at the airport. The investigation is on,” The Indian Express quoted a source as saying.

The report revealed that the stolen equipment included 16 bats, pads, shoes, thigh pads and gloves with the bats belonging to Delhi skipper David Warner, star all-rounder Mitchell March, England's Phil Salt and Yash Dhull. The stolen bats are estimated to be worth INR one lakh each. A complaint has been lodged after the players informed the franchise about the missing equipment.

It is worth noting that a logistics company is assigned the duty of taking care of the players' kit bags and luggage during the tournament, ensuring their transportation in time before the matches. All the players leave out their kit bags outside their rooms after each match for the logistics company to take over. The players receive their kit bags outside their rooms at the venue they have travelled to.

“Our duty officer asked them to write a complaint with all the details and gave them a paper. They said that they would get all the details and will file a complaint. Appropriate legal action would be taken,” the publication quoted DCP (Airport) Devesh Kumar Mahla as saying.