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Axar Patel was retained by Delhi Capitals for Rs 18 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction and is expected to lead the franchise in the upcoming season of the cash-rich league.
According to Karthik, 30-year-old Indian all-rounder, who was retained for Rs 18 crore will lead Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025. (Picture Credit: Sportzpics)
Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has hinted that star Indian all-rounder Axar Patel will lead Delhi Capitals in the 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League. Axar, who led DC in one IPL match last year in the absence of Rishabh Pant, was retained by the Delhi-based franchise for Rs 18 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. The 30-year-old all-rounder has been associated with Delhi Capitals since the 2019 season and has been an integral part of the franchise.
While the franchise is yet to make an official announcement about the captain, Karthik, who had served as DC’s captain in the past, made the big reveal during Cricbuzz’s HeyCB with DK show.
He was asked to share his thoughts about Axar’s appointment as vice-captain of the Indian team for the upcoming five-match series against England and why Hardik Pandya is not being given leadership roles, to which he said, “I really don’t know. I don’t know why he (Hardik) was stripped of his vice-captaincy. I don’t see any reason to. They have done well. They have won in the bilaterals that he was the vice-captain. Not a clue. But for Axar Patel, all the very best. A good opportunity for him. Heard 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.
Axar’s appointment as captain will mean that former Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants skipper KL Rahul will play as a pure batter in the cash-rich league for the first time since the 2020 season. The 32-year-old right-handed batter from Bengaluru, who was signed for Rs 14 crore by DC in the IPL 2025 mega auction, served as PBKS captain in IPL 2020 and 2021, and from 2022 to 2024, he led Lucknow Super Giants.
It will be interesting to see if Rahul opens the innings for Delhi Capitals or plays in the middle order. The right-handed batter has opened for LSG and PBKS, but for the Indian team, he plays as the No. 5 batter in ODIs.
