Before Delhi Capitals (DC) kick off their IPL 2025 season against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), captain Axar Patel mentioned that he’s unsure about KL Rahul’s participation in the match due to personal matters. Rahul joined the team right before the game in Visakhapatnam, but whether he’ll play against LSG remains uncertain since he’s expecting his first child with his wife, Athiya Shetty.
Axar said in a pre-match press conference, “He’s with us, but we’re aware he’s dealing with personal issues. We’ll check in with him to see how he’s feeling and keep you posted tomorrow morning. Right now, we don’t know if he’ll be available.”
This season marks Axar’s first full season as captain of DC, and he’s feeling positive about leading the team toward a championship win. “I’ve been with this franchise since 2019, and it’s really helped me grow as a cricketer. It’s a great honor to take on the captaincy.”
He also mentioned the support of experienced players in the team. “We have a lot of leaders, and I’m always learning from them. Having seasoned players like KL and Faf du Plessis is reassuring. I think we have a solid team this year, and I’m confident we can turn things around.”
About his vision for the team, Axar emphasized simplicity. “I don’t want to complicate things. Cricket is just a game. If we execute well, everything will fall into place. I’m not focused on specific results; I just want the players to keep it simple. That’s how I’ll approach the tournament.”
Axar noted that the team is eager to make an impression this season. “With a new team and a new captain, we haven’t played much together yet, but we’re ready to express ourselves and play without fear. Everyone is committed to putting in 100%, and the atmosphere in the DC family is great.”
DC also has a new coaching staff, and head coach Hemang Badani expressed satisfaction with the new rules, including the use of saliva for bowlers and allowing a ball change after the 11th over during evening games. “Cricket has often favored batters recently, so lifting the saliva ban gives bowlers a bit more of an edge. Even a little deviation can change the outcome significantly.”
He added his thoughts on the ball change rule, saying it gives the fielding side in the second innings a better chance. “I’m all for it. I think these changes are good.”
Last year in Visakhapatnam, DC faced some high-scoring matches, and Axar expects the same this year. “The pitch here is great for batting. Last season, KKR scored around 250-260 runs. It tends to be a high-scoring venue, so we need to implement our plans to keep the opposition’s total down. Every match teaches us something new.”
When asked about the opening batting pair, with vice-captain Faf du Plessis and Jake Fraser-McGurk as candidates, Badani kept it a mystery: “It’s suspense! You’ll have to wait and see when we take the field tomorrow.”