Follow UsAll-rounder Axar Patel has been picked as the new Delhi Capitals (DC) captain ahead of KL Rahul, Dinesh Karthik said on Cricbuzz. The franchise, however, is yet to confirm this. Axar has been Rishabh Pant's deputy and, in fact, led them in a match during Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.
Rahul, who has led Punjab Kings PBKS and Lucknow Supergiants (LSG), will play solely as a batter for the first time in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since 2020. DC bought him at the IPL 2025 auction for INR 14 crore.
Retained by DC ahead of the auction, Axar was earlier appointed as the new vice-captain of India's T20 International (T20I) side for the upcoming five-match series against England. “For Axar Patel, all the very best [for India vice-captaincy]," Karthik said on a show on Cricbuzz.
"A good opportunity for him. He is going to be the Delhi Capitals’ captain as well. So here is a good opportunity for him to lead and show the way. He has been doing that for Gujarat as well. So, wish him all the luck," Karthik said on the show."
Axar had one of his best IPL seasons in 2024, where he hit 235 runs at a strike rate of 131.28, including a couple of fifties. He also chipped in with 11 wickets at an economy rate of 7.66 with the ball to further prove his all-round credentials.