In IPL 2025, Axar Patel has been chosen as the captain of Delhi Capitals (DC). Having joined the team in 2019, he was also their highest retained player for INR 16.50 crore prior to the mega auction last November. Although he does not have extensive experience as a captain, he was appointed as India’s T20I vice-captain in January this year.
31-year-old Axar has been at the helm of Gujarat’s team for 23 matches in different formats, including the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy during the 2024-25 season. He also captained DC during an IPL match last year, filling in for Rishabh Pant who was suspended due to a slow over-rate. Unfortunately, DC lost this crucial game against RCB, resulting in their elimination from the playoffs.
Following his departure from the DC franchise before the upcoming mega auction, Pant’s absence left Axar as their most seasoned player. In the span of six seasons, he has competed in 82 matches for them. In the previous year, he recorded a batting total of 235 runs with an impressive average of nearly 30 and also snagged 11 wickets while maintaining an economy rate of 7.65.
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The team boasts a lineup of experienced players, such as KL Rahul and Faf du Plessis, who have previously captained other IPL teams. Additionally, they have the talent of senior international player Mitchell Starc.
According to Parth Jindal, co-owner of DC, he has personally seen Axar evolve as both a cricketer and a leader during their time together at the Delhi Capitals. Since personally selecting Axar in 2019, their relationship extends beyond the realm of cricket. As vice-captain for the past two years, Axar has gained popularity among his teammates and is expected to inspire and motivate the squad.
As the Indian Premier League (IPL) season commences, Axar brings with him valuable experience from his crucial involvement in India’s victorious Champions Trophy journey. His impressive stats include five wickets with an economy rate of 4.35 and impactful performances as a number five batsman throughout the tournament.
Out of the original eight franchises in the IPL, DC is among three teams- along with Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru- who have yet to secure a title. In the previous season, they landed at the sixth spot, winning and losing seven matches each. This year, Axar will join forces with a fresh management team at DC, consisting of Hemang Badani as head coach, Venugopal Rao as director of cricket, and Matthew Mott as assistant coach. Their IPL 2025 journey kicks off with a match against LSG in Visakhapatnam on March 24th.
DC’s latest announcement of Axar has completed the list of new captains for the five teams in need, following the mega auction. Rajat Patidar will lead RCB, Ajinkya Rahane for Kolkata Knight Riders, Rishabh Pant for Lucknow Super Giants, and Shreyas Iyer for Punjab Kings.
