New Delhi: India all-rounder Axar Patel was on Friday appointed captain of Delhi Capitals for upcoming IPL on expected lines pipping another senior player KL Rahul, who has joined the team this season.
Currently the team’s longest-serving player, having played six seasons for Delhi since 2019, the 31-year-old was DC’s top retention for INR 16.50 crore ahead of the mega auction last November. In 82 games for Delhi, he has scored 967 runs and picked up 62 wickets at a fantastic economy rate of shade over 7.
While his IPL captaincy experience is limited, he led Gujarat in domestic cricket including the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2024-25.
DC retained Axar for INR 18 crore.
The 31-year-old emerged as one of the top-performing players for the franchise across the six seasons; in the 82 matches he has played for the Capitals, Patel has scored 967 runs and picked up 62 wickets at an impressive economy of 7.09. Throughout this time, Axar also became a mainstay in Team India across all formats.
“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,” said Axar Patel, on being appointed as the captain.
“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 which has tremendous potential.
We have plenty of leaders in the group which is also very helpful for me, and 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.”
Delhi Capitals will kick-start their IPL 2025 campaign in Visakhapatnam on March 24 against Lucknow Super Giants, led by DC’s former skipper, Rishabh Pant.
The Capitals are yet to win an IPL title in 17 seasons, and with Axar, as well as past IPL skippers KL Rahul and Faf du Plessis in the squad, the franchise will be aiming for a successful outing in 2025.
