Axar Patel Appointed Delhi Capitals Captain for IPL 2025

Delhi Capitals have appointed star all-rounder and the longest-serving player in the men's team Axar Patel as captain for the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League.

KL Rahul was also the leadership candidate after being brought in by the franchise for Rs 14 crore in the mega auction last year.

However, IANS has previously reported that Axar to be appointed as skipper as "the franchise had requested for KL Rahul to be the captain of the team, but he very much wants to play for the side as a player in the upcoming tourney."

The 31-year-old Axar first signed with the Capitals in 2019 and has since become one of the best-performing players for the franchise in the six seasons with his knack of rising to the challenge.

In the 82 games, Axar has worn the red and blue of the Capitals, he has scored 967 runs and taken 62 wickets at a remarkable economy of 7.09.

“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,” said Axar Patel, on being appointed as the captain.

"I have developed as a cricketer and as a human being while being here at the Capitals, and I am ready and confident to captain this side in the future. Our coaches and scouts have done an excellent job at the mega auction by assembling a well-balanced and strong team which has huge potential.".

We have enough leaders in the group which is also very supportive for me, and I can't wait to be part of the team as we look forward to a very successful season for the Capitals, supported by the tremendous love and support of our fans," he further added.

A seasoned player with 150 IPL matches under his belt, Axar boasts 1653 runs and 123 wickets to his credit including an electrifying hat-trick in 2016 where he grabbed 4 wickets in 5 balls for Punjab franchise.

Since signing for the Capitals in 2019, the 31-year-old has forged himself into a steady all-rounder and will be working in tandem with the Capitals support team that includes Director of Cricket Venugopal Rao, Mentor Kevin Pietersen, Head Coach Hemang Badani, Assistant Coach Matthew Mott, and Bowling Coach Munaf Patel.

Welcoming Axar as the new leader of the team, Delhi Capitals chairman Kiran Kumar Grandhi said, "We are thrilled to announce Axar as the captain of the Delhi Capitals. He has been part of the Capitals family since 2019 and represents the values on which this team is founded.". This decision reflects the natural progression for him as a leader – from being our vice-captain for two seasons to now leading the team, he has always stepped up to the occasion for us. Axar has the full support of our coaching staff and the experienced leadership group, and I wish him the very best for this new role which I am confident he will excel in.”

Delhi Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal told, "I have seen the growth of Axar as a cricketer and a captain up close within the Delhi Capitals. Having invested in Axar personally in 2019, my connection to him is greater than that of cricket.". Having observed him as Vice Captain of the team during the past two years, I am confident in saying that he is a highly respected figure within the dressing room and is someone who I am certain will inspire the players in the squad.

"From being a frugal spinner who made his presence felt immediately when he took the field to bowl, Axar has turned into a stellar, matured cricketer whose all-rounder quality was on public display in India's T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy success campaigns recently. I wish him all the luck as he begins a new innings in his cricketing career.". With seniors such as KL Rahul, Faf du Plessis and Mitchell Starc being our part of the leadership group, I feel that this is just the beginning of something special for the Delhi Capitals."

The Delhi Capitals will open their IPL 2025 account in Visakhapatnam on March 24 against Lucknow Super Giants.