India’s all-rounder Axar Patel was officially appointed as the captain of Delhi Capitals for the upcoming IPL 2025 season on Friday. His appointment, while expected, came after he was chosen over senior player KL Rahul, who recently joined the team.
Axar Patel, currently the longest-serving player for the franchise, has been a part of Delhi Capitals since 2019. Over the past six seasons, the 31-year-old has become an integral part of the team, both with the bat and ball. Ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, he was DC’s top retention at INR 16.50 crore. In 82 matches for Delhi, he has accumulated 967 runs and claimed 62 wickets while maintaining an impressive economy rate of just over 7.
Though his IPL captaincy experience is limited, Axar has led Gujarat in domestic cricket, captaining the team in prestigious tournaments like the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy during the 2024-25 season. He also served as India’s vice-captain in T20Is earlier this year and played a crucial role in India’s recent Champions Trophy triumph, where he took five wickets at an economy rate of 4.35. His batting contributions were also significant, scoring 109 runs at an average of 27.25 while playing in the No. 5 position.
Expressing his gratitude for the leadership role, Axar said in a media release, “It is my absolute honor to captain the Delhi Capitals, and I am deeply grateful to our owners and support staff for placing their faith in me. I have grown both as a cricketer and as a human being during my time at the Capitals, and I feel ready and confident to lead this team going forward.”
Axar Patel takes over from Rishabh Pant, who has exited the Delhi franchise following the mega auction and is set to lead Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2025. The Delhi squad boasts several experienced players, including KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, Faf du Plessis, and Mitchell Starc, forming a strong leadership group. It will be interesting to see how Axar harnesses their expertise to take DC forward in the upcoming season.
Delhi Capitals remains one of the three original IPL franchises yet to clinch a title, alongside Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. In the 2024 season, the team finished in sixth place, registering an equal win-loss record. With IPL 2025 around the corner, DC has undergone a significant coaching overhaul. GMR has assumed management control for the 2025 and 2026 seasons as part of its arrangement with co-owners JSW.
The revamped coaching staff is led by Kevin Pietersen, with Hemang Badani serving as the head coach. Venugopal Rao has been appointed as the director of cricket, while Matthew Mott takes on the role of assistant coach. Munaf Patel has joined as the bowling coach, and Venugopal Rao’s brother, Gnaneshwar Rao, has also been included in the coaching setup.
Speaking about the team composition, Axar praised the franchise’s efforts at the auction, stating, “Our coaches and scouts have done a superb job at the mega auction by assembling a well-balanced and strong squad with tremendous potential. We have plenty of leaders in the group, which will be very helpful for me as I take on this new role. I can’t wait to join the team as we work towards a very successful season.”
Last season, Axar Patel delivered impressive performances, scoring 235 runs at an average of nearly 30 and taking 11 wickets at an economy rate of 7.65. Having played 150 IPL matches, Axar has accumulated 1,653 runs and 123 wickets, including a remarkable hat-trick in 2016 when he claimed four wickets in five balls while playing for the Punjab franchise.
Delhi Capitals chairman Kiran Kumar Grandhi and co-owner Parth Jindal strongly backed Axar’s appointment, highlighting his leadership attributes and invaluable contributions to the franchise. Jindal expressed his confidence in Axar’s abilities, stating, “I have witnessed Axar’s progression as a cricketer and a leader firsthand at the Delhi Capitals. My relationship with him goes beyond cricket. He is a beloved figure in the dressing room and someone who I am certain will inspire and motivate the players. His all-round brilliance was evident in India’s recent T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy victories. With seasoned players like KL Rahul, Faf du Plessis, and Mitchell Starc in our leadership group, I believe this marks the beginning of something special for the Delhi Capitals.”
Grandhi echoed these sentiments, adding, “This decision reflects the natural progression for Axar as a leader. Having served as our vice-captain for two seasons, he has always stepped up for us in crucial moments. Now, as captain, we trust that he will guide the team with the same commitment and passion.”
With Axar’s appointment, all five IPL teams that required new captains following the mega auction have now finalized their leaders. The confirmed captains for IPL 2025 include Rajat Patidar (RCB), Ajinkya Rahane (KKR), Rishabh Pant (LSG), and Shreyas Iyer (PBKS), alongside Axar Patel (DC).
Delhi Capitals will begin their IPL 2025 campaign with a high-stakes clash against Lucknow Super Giants in Visakhapatnam on March 24. The match will see Axar Patel lead DC for the first time, while former captain Rishabh Pant will take charge of LSG in what promises to be an exciting encounter.
