New Delhi: The JSW-GMR co-owned Delhi Capitals franchise has officially named star all-rounder Axar Patel as the captain for the upcoming 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Having been a crucial part of the franchise since 2019 Patel steps into this leadership role as the team’s longest-serving player. Since joining the Delhi Capitals Axar Patel has been a consistent performer with both bat and ball. Over six seasons he has played 82 matches amassing 967 runs and claiming 62 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 7.09. His ability to contribute in all departments of the game coupled with his leadership qualities has made him an invaluable asset to the franchise. Welcoming the announcement Delhi Capitals Chairman Kiran Kumar Grandhi stated “We are delighted to appoint Axar as the Delhi Capitals captain. He has been an integral part of the Capitals family since 2019 and embodies the values that this team is built on. His transition from vice-captain to captain was a natural progression and we have full confidence in his leadership.” Endorsement from Team Ownership Delhi Capitals Co-owner Parth Jindal echoed similar sentiments expressing confidence in Patel’s ability to lead the team to new heights. “Having personally picked Axar in 2019 my relationship with him extends beyond cricket. He is a beloved figure in the dressing room and has proven himself as a leader. His all-round capabilities were instrumental in Indias recent T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy triumphs. With senior 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.” Axar Patel’s Take on His New Role Expressing his gratitude Axar Patel shared his excitement about leading Delhi Capitals. “It is my absolute honor to captain the Delhi Capitals and I’m deeply grateful to our owners and support staff for placing their faith in me. Over the years I have grown as a cricketer and a person with this franchise and I feel prepared to lead the team forward. Our squad carefully crafted during the mega auction is balanced and full of potential. With several experienced leaders in the group I am confident that we can achieve great success this season backed by our incredible fans.” A Veteran of the IPL Having played 150 IPL matches Axar Patel boasts a career tally of 1653 runs and 123 wickets. His impressive IPL journey includes a remarkable hat-trick in 2016 where he took four wickets in five balls for Punjab. Since joining Delhi Capitals he has solidified his reputation as a dependable all-rounder. Strong Support System for the New Captain As captain Patel will work closely with the Delhi Capitals support staff including Director of Cricket Venugopal Rao Mentor Kevin Pietersen Head Coach Hemang Badani Assistant Coach Matthew Mott and Bowling Coach Munaf Patel. With such an experienced group backing him Patel is set for a promising stint as leader. IPL 2025 Kickoff for Delhi Capitals Delhi Capitals will commence their IPL 2025 campaign against Lucknow on March 24 2025 in Visakhapatnam. With Axar Patel at the helm the team looks forward to an exciting and competitive season. About Delhi Capitals The Delhi Capitals franchise participates in both the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Established in 2008 as the Delhi Daredevils and later rebranded in 2019 the team reached its first-ever IPL final in 2020. In the Women’s Premier League Delhi Capitals has been a dominant force reaching the final in all three editions since its inception in 2023. Co-owned by the GMR Group and JSW Group Delhi Capitals continues to strive for excellence across both formats.