New season, new captain! Delhi Capitals (DC) have officially appointed Axar Patel as their skipper for IPL 2025, marking a fresh start for the franchise that is still chasing its maiden IPL trophy.
Axar, who has been with DC since 2019, was their top retention for ₹16.50 crore ahead of the mega auction and now steps into the captaincy role following Rishabh Pant’s exit from the franchise. Despite not having extensive leadership experience, he was India’s T20I vice-captain earlier this year and has led Gujarat in domestic cricket, proving his ability to step up when needed.
A New Era for Delhi Capitals
With a revamped squad and fresh leadership, DC is betting on Axar to bring stability and direction. He led DC in one game last season, but this time, it’s a full-fledged responsibility.
- 82 matches for DC since 2019, making him their most experienced retained player.
- Scored 235 runs at an average of 30 in IPL 2024, along with 11 wickets at an economy of 7.65.
- Played a crucial role in India’s Champions Trophy-winning campaign, with 5 wickets at an economy of just 4.35, plus valuable contributions with the bat.
Axar Patel’s Reaction
“It is my absolute honor to captain the Delhi Capitals, and I’m deeply grateful to the owners and support staff for placing their faith in me,”
said Axar in DC’s official statement.
“We have a balanced and strong squad after the mega auction, and I am looking forward to leading this team. There are plenty of senior players who will guide me, and I can’t wait to bring success to the Capitals with the support of our fans.”
Strong Leadership Group to Support Axar
Delhi Capitals have KL Rahul, Faf du Plessis, and Mitchell Starc, all of whom have led IPL teams before. This will give Axar plenty of experienced minds to strategize with.
DC’s chairman Kiran Kumar Grandhi backed the decision, saying:
“Axar has been an integral part of the Capitals family since 2019, and this is a natural progression for him. He has always stepped up when needed, and we believe he is ready to lead the team.”
Co-owner Parth Jindal added:
“I have personally seen Axar grow from a promising spinner to a complete all-rounder. He is a leader in the dressing room, and I’m confident he will take DC forward in IPL 2025.”
DC’s Coaching Overhaul & Road to IPL 2025
Axar won’t just be working with a new squad—DC has a completely new coaching staff as well!
- Head Coach: Hemang Badani
- Director of Cricket: Venugopal Rao
- Assistant Coach: Matthew Mott
Delhi Capitals will kickstart their IPL 2025 campaign against Lucknow Super Giants on March 24 in Visakhapatnam.
IPL 2025: Who Else is Leading the Teams?
With DC naming their captain, all five teams that needed new leadership after the auction have finalized their skippers:
- Rajat Patidar – Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
- Ajinkya Rahane – Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
- Rishabh Pant – Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
- Shreyas Iyer – Punjab Kings (PBKS)
- Axar Patel – Delhi Capitals (DC)
Can Axar Take DC to Their First IPL Title?
Delhi Capitals are one of three original franchises yet to win the IPL (along with RCB & PBKS). The team has come close in the past, reaching the final in 2020, but has never gone all the way.
For Grolife Sports’ audience, the big questions are:
✅ Can Axar Patel handle the pressure of full-time IPL captaincy?
✅ Does Delhi Capitals finally have the squad to win the IPL?
✅ With experienced stars like KL Rahul, Faf du Plessis, and Starc, can DC go all the way this season?
