NEW Captain of DELHI CAPITALS ANNOUNCED! Check Details Here
Axar Patel, the seasoned all-rounder, has been handed the reins of Delhi Capitals (DC) for IPL 2025, marking a new era for the franchise. Having been a vital part of DC since 2019, Axar’s elevation to captaincy comes as no surprise, given his consistency and leadership qualities.
With the departure of Rishabh Pant to Lucknow Super Giants, Axar, one of DC’s top retentions at INR 16.50 crore, has been entrusted with the responsibility of steering the team toward its maiden IPL title.
While Axar’s captaincy experience in the IPL is limited, he has led Gujarat in 23 matches across formats, including the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Additionally, he was named India’s T20I vice-captain in January this year, indicating the faith selectors have in his leadership acumen. Last season, he briefly captained DC in a crucial match against RCB when Pant was suspended for a slow over-rate.
Reflecting on his appointment, Axar expressed his gratitude, saying, "It is my absolute honor to captain the Delhi Capitals, and I'm deeply grateful to our owners and support staff for placing their faith in me. I've grown as a cricketer and a human being during my time here at the Capitals, and I feel ready and confident to lead this side going forward."
Delhi Capitals have built a formidable squad for IPL 2025, featuring experienced campaigners like KL Rahul, Faf du Plessis, and Mitchell Starc. The presence of such senior players provides Axar with a strong leadership core, ensuring he isn’t shouldering the burden alone.
DC chairman Kiran Kumar Grandhi emphasized this, stating, "This decision reflects the natural progression for him as a leader - from being our vice-captain for two seasons to now leading the team. Axar has the full support of our coaching staff and the experienced leadership group."
Axar’s Road to Captaincy
Since joining DC, Axar has been a pillar of stability, playing 82 matches across six seasons. In the 2024 season, he contributed 235 runs at an average close to 30 and took 11 wickets with an economy rate of 7.65. His recent performances in India’s triumphant Champions Trophy campaign further solidified his credentials, where he took five wickets with an economy of 4.35 while also playing crucial cameos with the bat.
Delhi Capitals have seen a long list of captains over the years, including legends like Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, and David Warner. Now, with Axar becoming the 14th captain in the franchise’s history, DC hopes he can finally break the title drought and lead them to IPL glory.
DC will kickstart their campaign against LSG in Visakhapatnam on March 24. With a revamped management setup featuring Hemang Badani (head coach), Venugopal Rao (director of cricket), and Matthew Mott (assistant coach), all eyes will be on Axar as he embarks on this new journey. Can he turn Delhi Capitals’ fortunes around? Only time will tell.
