Axar Patel has been appointed as the new captain of the Delhi Capitals (DC) for the upcoming IPL 2025 season. The left-arm spin-bowling allrounder has been with DC since 2019 and was their top retention for INR 16.50 crore ahead of the mega auction. While Axar’s leadership experience at the IPL level is limited, he has captained Gujarat in domestic cricket across 23 matches and was named India’s T20I vice-captain earlier this year.
Last season, he briefly led DC in a crucial match against RCB when Rishabh Pant was suspended for a slow over-rate, but the team failed to qualify for the playoffs. Following Pant’s exit from the franchise, Axar, with 82 appearances for DC, emerged as their most experienced player. In IPL 2024, he contributed 235 runs at an average of nearly 30 and claimed 11 wickets with an economy rate of 7.65.
Expressing his gratitude, Axar stated, “It is an absolute honor to captain Delhi Capitals, and I am thankful to the owners and support staff for their trust in me. Over the years, I have grown both as a cricketer and a person here, and I feel prepared to take on this challenge. Our management has built a well-balanced squad, and with several experienced leaders in the team, I am eager to lead DC towards a successful season.”
Strong Leadership Support and Team Composition
DC Chairman Kiran Kumar Grandhi emphasized Axar’s long-standing contribution to the franchise and described his captaincy as a natural progression.
“Axar has been an integral part of the team since 2019 and has embodied DC’s values. From serving as vice-captain to now leading the team, he has always stepped up. He has our full support and will excel in this role,” Grandhi said.
Co-owner Parth Jindal also expressed confidence in Axar’s leadership, recalling their strong bond since he was picked in 2019.
“Axar is a much-loved figure in the dressing room, and I believe he will inspire his teammates. Over the years, he has evolved into a mature, all-round cricketer, playing key roles in India’s recent T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy victories. With senior players like KL Rahul, Faf du Plessis, and Mitchell Starc in the leadership group, I am certain this is the beginning of something special for DC.”
New Coaching Staff and IPL 2025 Campaign
Axar steps into his new role with a fresh coaching staff, including Hemang Badani as head coach, Venugopal Rao as director of cricket, and Matthew Mott as assistant coach. DC, one of the three original IPL franchises yet to win a title, finished sixth last season with seven wins and seven losses. They will begin their IPL 2025 campaign on March 24 against Lucknow Super Giants in Visakhapatnam.
With Axar’s appointment, all five teams that required a new captain after the mega auction have finalized their leaders: Rajat Patidar (RCB), Ajinkya Rahane (KKR), Rishabh Pant (LSG), and Shreyas Iyer (PBKS). As DC aims for its maiden IPL title, all eyes will be on Axar Patel to guide the team to glory.
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