Delhi Capitals have appointed Axar Patel as their new captain for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, replacing Rishabh Pant. Pant, who was released by the franchise before the mega auction in November last year, joined Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and became the most expensive player in IPL history after LSG acquired him for a record-breaking Rs 27 crore.
Initially, speculation suggested that KL Rahul would take over as captain after Delhi Capitals secured him for Rs 14 crore in the auction. However, the franchise ultimately entrusted Axar with the leadership role. Axar brings prior captaincy experience, having led Baroda in 16 T20 matches between 2018 and 2024, securing 10 victories. He also briefly led Delhi Capitals on May 12, 2024, against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, though DC lost that match by 47 runs.
As a T20 captain, Axar has contributed 364 runs at an average of 36.40, with a top score of 57 against RCB in 2024. With the ball, he has taken 13 wickets at an average of 29.07, including best figures of 2/13 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021.
Axar’s recent performances were impressive, particularly in the Champions Trophy 2025, where he played a key role in India’s title win against New Zealand in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. In five matches, he amassed 109 runs at an average of 27.25 and took five wickets with an economy rate of 4.35.
Delhi Capitals, who finished as runners-up in IPL 2020 when the tournament was held in the UAE due to the COVID-19 pandemic, have struggled in recent seasons, failing to make the playoffs in 2022, 2023, and 2024. They will kick off their IPL 2025 campaign against Lucknow Super Giants on Monday, March 24, at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam.