On Friday, March 14, at 9:30 AM, the Delhi Capitals (DC) officially named star Indian all-rounder Axar Patel as their new captain ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. The decision came after a close contest for the captaincy between Axar Patel and KL Rahul, with the former ultimately being chosen to lead the franchise.
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Axar Patel Named New Delhi Capitals Captain
Axar Patel will take over the captaincy from Rishabh Pant, who was released by the franchise after the owners were unable to reacquire him during the auction. Axar was the top retention for Delhi Capitals ahead of the IPL 2025 auction, secured for a staggering Rs 16.5 crore. Other key retentions included Kuldeep Yadav (Rs 13.25 crore), Tristan Stubbs (Rs 10 crore), and Abishek Porel (Rs 4 crore). Axar served as Pant’s deputy in IPL 2024 and even led the team in one match.
Meanwhile, KL Rahul was acquired by the Delhi Capitals for Rs 14 crore after departing from the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), where he had a successful stint as captain.
“It Is My Absolute Honour to Captain the Delhi Capitals” – Axar Patel
Axar Patel, who has been with DC since 2019, expressed his gratitude and excitement about leading the franchise. “It is my absolute honour to captain the Delhi Capitals, and I’m deeply grateful to our owners and support staff for placing their faith in me,” he said.
“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. Our coaches and scouts have done a superb job at the mega auction by putting together a balanced and robust squad with tremendous potential. We have plenty of leaders in the group, which is also very helpful for me. I can’t wait to join the team as we look forward to a very successful season for the Capitals, backed by the immense love and support of our fans.”
“We Are Delighted to Appoint Axar as the Delhi Capitals Captain” – Kiran Kumar Grandhi
Delhi Capitals Chairman Kiran Kumar Grandhi praised Axar’s appointment, highlighting his long-standing association with the franchise. “We are delighted to appoint Axar as the Delhi Capitals captain. He has been an integral part of the Capitals family since 2019 and embodies the values that this team is built on,” he said.
“Axar has the full support of our coaching staff and the experienced leadership group, and I wish him the very best for this new role, which I am confident he will excel in,” Grandhi added.
Co-owner Parth Jindal also expressed his excitement, describing Axar as a beloved figure in the dressing room. “I have witnessed Axar’s progression as a cricketer and a leader first-hand at the Delhi Capitals. Having personally picked Axar in 2019, my relationship with him goes beyond cricket. Having seen him as the Vice Captain of the team over the last two years, it is safe to say that he is a much-loved character in the dressing room and is someone who I am sure will motivate the players in the squad,” Jindal said.
