Axar Patel, the male team’s longest-serving player and star all-rounder, was named captain by the Delhi Capitals on Friday, March 14, in advance of the 2025 Indian Premier League season.
The 31-year-old joined the Capitals in 2019 and has since shown himself to be one of the team’s best players over the last six seasons thanks to his ability to step up when needed. With an outstanding economy rate of 7.09, Patel has amassed 967 runs and claimed 62 wickets in the 82 games he has worn the Capitals’ red and blue. The all-rounder is not only a dynamic player on the field but has also cultivated a unique bond with the supporters of the Capitals and the Indian national team.
Delhi Capitals Chairman Kiran Kumar Grandhi welcomed Axar as the team’s new captain, saying, “We are so happy to have Axar as our captain. Being a vital member of the Capitals family since 2019, he personifies the principles around which this team is based. This selection is a logical step in his leadership development; from serving as our vice captain for two seasons to currently captaining the squad, he has consistently risen to the challenge for us. With the full support of our coaching staff and the seasoned leadership group, Axar is well-equipped to succeed in this new job. I wish him the best of luck.
“Axar’s development as a leader and a cricket player has been directly observed by me at the Delhi Capitals,” stated Parth Jindal, a co-owner of the team.
Since I personally selected Axar in 2019, we have a relationship that extends beyond cricket. He is a well-liked figure in the locker room and will undoubtedly inspire the players in the squad, as seen by his two years as the team’s vice captain,” he added.
“After starting off as a cost-effective spinner who made an instant impression when he took the field, Axar has developed into a talented, experienced player whose all-around skill was evident during India’s recent T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy winning campaigns. As he begins a new phase in his cricket career, I wish him well. “I think this is the beginning of something fantastic for the Delhi Capitals, especially with seniors like KL Rahul, Faf du Plessis, and Mitchell Starc in our leadership group,” Parth continued.
Having grown up as a cricket player and person with DC: Axar Patel.
“Captaining the Delhi Capitals is an absolute honor for me, and I am incredibly thankful to our owners and support staff for believing in me,” Axar Patel remarked upon being named captain.
“My time at the Capitals has allowed me to develop both as a cricket player and a person, and I feel prepared and confident to lead this team moving forward. Our scouts and coaches put together a strong, well-balanced team with a ton of promise, and they did an amazing job at the mega auction. As we anticipate a fantastic season for the Capitals, supported by the unwavering love and support of our supporters, I am eager to join the team and find that we have many leaders in the group, which is also extremely beneficial to me.
A new era begins today 💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/9Yc4bBMSvt
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) March 14, 2025
In the season opener, Axar’s DC and Pant’s LSG will face off.
With 150 IPL games under his belt, Axar Patel has amassed 1653 runs and 123 wickets, including a record-breaking hat-trick in 2016 when he claimed four wickets in five balls for the Punjab team. The 31-year-old has established himself as a dependable all-around specialist since joining the Capitals in 2019. He will collaborate closely with the team’s support staff, which includes coach Munaf Patel, assistant coach Matthew Mott, head coach Hemang Badani, director of cricket Venugopal Rao, and mentor Kevin Pietersen.
The Delhi Capitals will play the Lucknow Super Giants on March 24, 2025, at Visakhapatnam to begin their IPL 2025 campaign.
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