“5 Reasons Axar Patel is the Perfect Captain for Delhi Capitals”. He replaces Rishabh Pant, who moved to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the mega auction. Since joining DC in 2019, Axar has played 82 matches and remained a crucial part of the team.

Although he captained DC for one match in IPL 2024, he brings additional leadership experience. He previously led Gujarat in 16 T20 matches and recently served as India’s T20I vice-captain. With these experiences, he now steps into a full-time captaincy role.

DC decided not to retain Pant, allowing LSG to sign him for a record-breaking INR 27 Crore. Meanwhile, Axar emerged as DC’s top retention for INR 16.5 Crore. His T20 career spans 274 matches, where he has scored 3,088 runs, including eight fifties, and taken 239 wickets. Notably, he registered an IPL hat-trick in 2016 while playing for Punjab.

Axar Patel Shares His Excitement

Expressing his gratitude, Axar said,
“Leading Delhi Capitals is a huge honor. I sincerely thank the owners and support staff for trusting me. Over the years, I have grown as both a player and a leader. Our squad looks strong, and I am confident we will have a successful season. With the support of our fans, we will give our best on the field.”

DC Management Backs Axar’s Leadership

DC Chairman Kiran Kumar Grandhi expressed his confidence in Axar’s leadership. He emphasized that Axar has played a key role since 2019 and has naturally progressed into the captaincy position.

Co-owner Parth Jindal also praised Axar’s influence in the dressing room. He highlighted Axar’s evolution into a mature, all-round cricketer and expressed confidence in his ability to lead the team effectively.

DC’s First Match of IPL 2025

Delhi Capitals will kick off their IPL 2025 campaign on March 24 in Visakhapatnam. Interestingly, they will face Lucknow Super Giants, led by their former captain Rishabh Pant.