One whose Champions Trophy 2025 was just fantastic is India’s star all-rounder Axar Patel. Named captain of Delhi Capitals for IPL, 5 batter and also a spinner was announced on Friday.
Another big contender, KL Rahul, who has entered the team this year, he pipped. At present teamamp;’ longest serving player having played six seasons for Delhi since 2019, the 31-year-old was DCamp top retention for INR 16.50 crore ahead of the mega auction last November
. Over 82 matches for Delhi, he has a superb economy rate of just over 7 and has scored 967 runs and taken 62 wickets.
KL Rahul has now responded to Axar naming the captain of the Delhi Capitals.
“Congratulations Bapu; On Delhi Capitals’ Instagram post introducing Axar Patel as the captain, KL Rahul stated, “Wishing you all the best in this journey and always with you.”
Although his experience as an IPL captain is restricted, he captained Gujarat in 2024-25 domestic play including the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Earlier this year he was also India’s T20I vice-captain; in their recent success in the Champions Trophy Axar claimed five wickets at a 4.35 economy to fill a critical role. He also scored 109 runs at a 27.25 average and batted fifth.
In a press release, Axar said, Delhi Capitals, captain, and gratefully the owner thanked their trust in me’s absolute honour.
Axar will lead Lucknow Super Giants after the mega auction, taking the place of Rishabh Pant at the helm, and the flamboyant keeper-batter will leave the team before then.
Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, Faf du Plessis, and Mitchell Starc are experienced players in the leadership group, so it is still to be seen how Axar inspires them to propel Delhi Capitals ahead.
“I have developed both as a cricketer and as a human during my time at the Capitals, so I am ready and sure to guide this team forward.
One of the three original IPL teams not yet to claim a title (along with Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru), DC ended last season’s sixth with a level win-loss record.
Under their understanding with co-owners JSW, GMR has a new coaching arrangement for IPL 2025 and 2026 season whereby they will have management control.
Head coach Hemang Badani, director of cricket Venugopal Rao, assistant coach Matthew Mott and bowling coach Munaf Patel headline the support staff along with Kevin Pietersen. Included in the coaching staff is Venugopal Rao .
“Our coaches and scouts have really knocked it out of the park at the mega auction by building a well-balanced, strong team with great upside.
Last season, his average runs were almost 30 and his economy was 7.65 as he scored 235 runs. For me, many leaders in the group help a lot too, and I can’t wait to be part of the team looking ahead to a very successful season.
With a brilliant hat-trick in 2016 when he got 4 wickets in 5 balls for the Punjab franchise, Axar has 1653 runs and 123 wickets to his name from 150 IPL games.
