Axar Patel to Lead Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025

New Delhi :The Delhi Capitals have announced that all-rounder Axar Patel will take over as their captain for the upcoming 2025 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The decision, revealed on Friday, follows speculation about who would succeed Rishabh Pant, who was acquired by the Lucknow Super Giants in the recent 2025 auction.

While the Capitals successfully bid for KL Rahul in the same auction, leading to further discussion about the captaincy, the franchise has ultimately placed their trust in Patel. The Gujarat native has been a part of the Delhi Capitals since 2019 and was one of four players the team chose to retain ahead of the 2025 auction, along with Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, and Abhishek Porel. The Delhi Capitals retained Axar Patel for a sum of INR 18 crore.

The 31-year-old has proven to be a key player for the franchise over the past six seasons. In his 82 matches for the Capitals, Patel has scored 967 runs and taken 62 wickets with an impressive bowling economy rate of 7.09. During his time with the Capitals, Axar has also become a regular member of the Indian national cricket team across all formats of the game.

Upon his appointment as captain, Axar Patel expressed his gratitude, saying, “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 added, “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.”

Patel also highlighted the presence of other leaders within the team, which he believes will be beneficial to him. He stated his eagerness to join the team and is looking forward to a successful season for the Capitals, with the support of their fans.

Delhi Capitals’ Season Begins on March 24th

The Delhi Capitals are scheduled to begin their IPL 2025 campaign on March 24th in Visakhapatnam, where they will face the Lucknow Super Giants, a team now led by the Capitals’ former captain, Rishabh Pant.

Having played 17 seasons without winning an IPL title, the Delhi Capitals will be aiming for a strong performance in 2025. With Axar Patel leading the team, and experienced IPL captains like KL Rahul and Faf du Plessis also in the squad, the franchise will be hoping for a successful season.