Axar Patel Named Delhi Capitals Captain : Delhi Capitals Appoint Axar Patel as Captain for IPL 2025

New Delhi, March 14 (NationPress) The Delhi Capitals have officially announced the appointment of star all-rounder and the longest-serving player on the men's team, Axar Patel, as captain for the upcoming 2025 season of the Indian Premier League.

While KL Rahul was also considered for the leadership role after being signed for Rs 14 crore at the mega auction last year, previous reports by IANS suggested that Axar was favored as the skipper due to his desire to contribute on the field as a player in the forthcoming tournament.

The 31-year-old Axar joined the Capitals in 2019 and has consistently proven to be one of the franchise's top performers over the six seasons, demonstrating his ability to rise to the occasion.

In his 82 appearances in the red and blue of the Capitals, Axar has accumulated 967 runs and taken 62 wickets, boasting an impressive economy rate of 7.09.

“It is a great honor to lead the Delhi Capitals, and I am incredibly thankful to our owners and support staff for their trust in me,” said Axar Patel upon his appointment.

“I have matured as both a cricketer and an individual during my time with the Capitals, and I feel ready and confident to lead this team forward. Our coaches and scouts have done an excellent job in the mega auction, assembling a balanced and strong squad with immense potential.

“We have numerous leaders in the group, which is beneficial for me, and I am eager to join the team as we aim for a very successful season, supported by the tremendous love and encouragement from our fans,” he added.

A seasoned player with 150 IPL matches under his belt, Axar has scored 1653 runs and taken 123 wickets, including a remarkable hat-trick in 2016 when he claimed 4 wickets in 5 balls for the Punjab franchise.

Since joining the Capitals, Axar has established himself as a dependable all-round specialist and will closely collaborate with the Capitals' support staff, which includes Director of Cricket Venugopal Rao, Mentor Kevin Pietersen, Head Coach Hemang Badani, Assistant Coach Matthew Mott, and Bowling Coach Munaf Patel.

Delhi Capitals chairman Kiran Kumar Grandhi welcomed Axar as the team's new leader, stating, “We are thrilled to name Axar as captain. He has been a vital part of the Capitals family since 2019, embodying the values that our team stands for. This decision marks a natural progression for him as a leader, from serving as our vice-captain for two seasons to now taking the helm. Axar has the full backing of our coaching staff and the seasoned leadership group, and I wish him all the best in this new role, where I am confident he will thrive.”

Franchise co-owner Parth Jindal commented, “I have witnessed Axar’s growth as a cricketer and leader firsthand at the Delhi Capitals. Having personally selected Axar in 2019, our relationship extends beyond cricket. Observing him as Vice Captain over the past two years, it is clear that he is a beloved figure in the dressing room and will surely inspire the players in the squad.

“From being an economical spinner who made an immediate impact, Axar has evolved into a brilliant, mature player whose all-round abilities were evident in India’s recent T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy victories. I wish him the best as he embarks on this new chapter in his cricketing journey. With seniors like KL Rahul, Faf du Plessis, and Mitchell Starc in our leadership group, I believe we are on the brink of something extraordinary for the Delhi Capitals.”

The Delhi Capitals are set to commence their IPL 2025 campaign in Visakhapatnam on March 24 against the Lucknow Super Giants.