New Delhi, March 14 (UNI) GMR co-owned Delhi Capitals on Friday announced the appointment of star allrounder Axar Patel as the team’s captain ahead of the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The 31-year-old, who has been with the franchise since 2019, succeeds Rishabh Pant as the leader of the squad.
A key figure for the Capitals over the past six seasons, Axar has established himself as a consistent performer with both bat and ball. In 82 matches for the franchise, he has amassed 967 runs and claimed 62 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 7.09.
Known for his reliability under pressure, Axar has also endeared himself to fans with his dynamic presence on the field and strong rapport with teammates.
Welcoming Axar as the new captain, Delhi Capitals Chairman Kiran Kumar Grandhi stated, “We are delighted to appoint Axar Patel as our captain. He has been an integral part of the Capitals family since 2019 and truly embodies the values we stand for. Having served as vice-captain for two seasons, his leadership qualities have been evident, making this transition a natural progression. Axar has our full support, and we are confident he will excel in this role.”
Delhi Capitals Co-owner Parth Jindal echoed similar sentiments, highlighting Axar’s journey with the franchise. “I have personally followed Axar’s growth as a cricketer and leader since we brought him into the team in 2019. His influence in the dressing room is immense, and his leadership will be crucial for the team’s success.
Axar has evolved into a dependable all-rounder, playing key roles in India’s recent T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy triumphs. With experienced players like KL Rahul, Faf du Plessis, and Mitchell Starc in our leadership group, this marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Delhi Capitals.”
Expressing his gratitude, Axar said, “It is an absolute honour to captain Delhi Capitals, and I am deeply thankful to the owners and support staff for entrusting me with this responsibility. My journey with the franchise has been immensely rewarding, both as a cricketer and as an individual. With a well-balanced and talented squad assembled at the mega auction, I am confident in our potential. I look forward to leading this team and making the fans proud.”
A veteran of 150 IPL matches, Axar has accumulated 1,653 runs and 123 wickets in the tournament, including a remarkable hat-trick in 2016 while playing for Punjab. Since joining Delhi Capitals, he has honed his skills as a reliable all-rounder and will work closely with the team’s coaching 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 will begin their IPL 2025 campaign on March 24 in Visakhapatnam against Lucknow Super Giants.
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