Axar Patel will lead Delhi Capitals (DC) in IPL 2025. He has been with the team since 2019 and was their top pick for ₹16.50 crore before the mega auction last November. While he hasn’t captained much, he was named India's T20I vice-captain in January, and now his skills are shown as captain of Delhi Capitals.

Axar Patel led Gujarat in 23 matches across different formats, including the 2024-25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy. He also captained Delhi Capitals in one IPL match last season a must-win game against RCB, which they lost, missing out on the playoffs. That match came when Rishabh Pant was suspended for a slow over-rate.

With Pant no longer in the DC squad after the mega auction, Axar became their most experienced player. He has played 82 matches for the team over six seasons. In IPL 2024, he scored 235 runs at an average of 30 and took 11 wickets with an economy rate of 7.65.

"It’s a great honor to captain Delhi Capitals, and I’m really grateful to the owners and support staff for believing in me," Axar said. "Being part of this team has helped me grow both as a cricketer and as a person, and I feel ready and confident to take on this responsibility.  

"Our coaches and scouts have done a great job at the mega auction, building a strong and well-balanced squad with a lot of potential. We have many experienced players in the team, which will make my job easier. I can’t wait to join the squad and, with the amazing support of our fans, make this a successful season for the Capitals." The squad includes KL Rahul and Faf du Plessis, both of whom have captained IPL teams before, along with senior international player Mitchell Starc.

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DC chairman Kiran Kumar Grandhi shared his excitement about Axar’s appointment, saying, "We’re really happy to have Axar as our captain. He has been a key part of the Delhi Capitals family since 2019 and truly represents what this team stands for. His leadership journey has been a natural one—from being vice-captain for two seasons to now leading the team. He has always stepped up when needed, and with the full support of our coaches and senior players, I’m confident he’ll do a fantastic job."  

- Won T20 World Cup.
- Won Champions Trophy.
- Vice Captain of India T20I Team.
- Captain of Delhi Capitals.

AXAR PATEL HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE IN LAST ONE YEAR - NOW CAPTAIN AXAR FOR DELHI. 🌟 pic.twitter.com/cbOAP9BCFB

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) March 14, 2025

Co-owner Parth Jindal also praised Axar, saying, "I’ve seen Axar grow both as a player and a leader at Delhi Capitals. When we picked him in 2019, I built a bond with him that goes beyond cricket. Over the last two years as vice-captain, he has been a well-loved member of the squad, and I have no doubt that he will inspire and motivate the team as captain."

With DC announcing Axar as their captain, all five teams that needed a new Captain after the mega auction have made their picks. Rajat Patidar will captain RCB, Ajinkya Rahane will lead Kolkata Knight Riders, Rishabh Pant will be in charge of Lucknow Super Giants, and Shreyas Iyer will captain Punjab Kings.