Why was Axar Patel Chosen as Leader Over Experienced ones?
Delhi Capitals announced their captain, and surprisingly, it was Axar Patel. That was a surprise for many, but there were a few layers to the decision made by the management. The owners and management are happy with their decision and would hope for a change in fortune. KL Rahul, DC’s hottest pick this season, seems happy with the decision and has extended his support to the management and Axar.
Let’s look at some reasons behind Axar Patel’s appointment as captain:
Senior Member of the Team
After Rishabh’s exit, Axar Patel was the senior-most member left in the team. Apart from Pant, Axar was the one who was more familiar with the Delhi Capitals setup and the processing than any other player. And Axar getting the vice-captaincy of Indian Cricket could be icing on the cake for Delhi management for thinking much before giving the leadership responsibility to Axar Patel. His growth as a player has been exceptional, and during his peak years, this could be the right time to explore Axar as a leader. Playing for DC across 5 seasons, Axar has also accumulated over 900 runs and 60 wickets. These numbers are enough to justify his selection and appointment as captain. It can be argued about KL or Faf as captain but considering the future, Delhi Capitals has made a great call.
Ignoring the Experience of Faf du Plessis
Faf du Plessis is the only person in the setup with vast experience of captaincy, not just in IPL but across the globe. However, he is also unlikely to find a place in the starting 11 of the team once KL is back. With Faf being unsure, the decision was between Axar Patel and KL Rahul. Additionally, Delhi would be eyeing not just this year’s IPL but for at least the next 5-6 years. Axar’s experience at the international level and the young aggression could help Delhi lift their first-ever IPL title. Axar was also part of the recent two ICC events that India won.
Not to Burden KL Rahul with Captaincy
In Indian Cricket, after Rohit Sharma then comes KL Rahul who has a wide range of cricketing shots and can play any bowling attack more comfortably than anyone else. During his stint as captain in Punjab and for Lucknow, it looked as if he was a bit under the pressure of managing the team, he was good enough as a batsman but unfortunately could not even reach the final. For Delhi Capitals, it looks clear from their side that they want KL completely as a batter to express himself in the best way possible.
KL Rahul, in his flow, can wreak havoc on any opposition. The recently concluded Champions Trophy 2025 indicated how good a player he is under different scenarios. He is slowly coming back to his groove and could be the missing piece of DC. His exploits in the IPL 2025 could find the old KL Rahul within himself. There’s a big possibility that he could be seen as more ruthless and aggressive, answering his critics in every possible way.
Delhi Capitals owners on Axar Patel’s Captaincy
Combing back to Axar Patel, even Delhi Capitals co-owner also honored Axar as a captain. Addressing the media, Parth Jindal praised Axar a lot and said he has personally watched him grow as a player and leader in the team. DC’s chairman Kiran Kumar said Axar embodies the team’s spirit and it reflects the natural progression in him as a leader.
It will be interesting to see how Axar fares as a captain. He has the right temperament and attitude to be a successful captain. He would want the players to step up their game and win DC their first-ever IPL title.
