Axar Patel Appointed as Delhi Capitals' New Captain

Axar Patel has been announced as the new captain of Delhi Capitals. Since joining the team in 2019, Axar has played 82 matches, and now, he will take on the leadership role.

Last IPL season, Axar Patel captained Delhi Capitals for one match after then-captain Rishabh Pant was banned due to a slow over-rate penalty. However, under Axar's captaincy in that match, the team lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Axar Patel has also captained Gujarat in 16 matches and has served as the vice-captain in T20s this year. Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant was not retained by Delhi in the IPL retention list. He was bought by Lucknow Super Giants for ₹27 crore in the mega auction.

On the other hand, Axar Patel is one of the top retentions for Delhi Capitals. His 12 years of T20 experience will significantly strengthen the team. He has played 274 T20 matches, scoring 3,088 runs and taking 239 wickets.

Talking about his appointment as captain, Axar Patel said, "Being appointed as the captain of Delhi Capitals is an honor for me. I am grateful to the team owners and coaching staff who have placed their trust in me. I have learned a lot as part of this team, and now I am fully ready to lead. Our coaching staff and scouts have built a strong team in the mega auction, and we are all set for a successful season."

Delhi Capitals Chairman Kiran Kumar Gandhi expressed his delight at appointing Axar Patel as captain, stating, "We are thrilled to appoint Axar Patel as our captain. He has been an integral part of the team since 2019, and his leadership qualities have been proven. We are confident that he will succeed in leading the team."

The team's co-owner, Parth Jindal, also expressed his confidence in Axar's leadership and said, "Axar is a beloved player, and there is a lot of strength in his leadership. I am sure he will take the team to new heights."

The 2025 IPL season will begin on March 24, and Delhi Capitals will face Lucknow Super Giants in their opening match.