Axar Patel’s tenure as Delhi Capitals captain could come to end after just one season. The all-rounder was named skipper in IPL 2025 after DC released Rishabh Pant ahead of the mega-auction. Now, reports claim that the team is likely to look out for a new captain while Axar continues his stint with the franchise.
New captain for DC loading?
As per News24, DC are most likely to get a new captain for IPL 2026. The report claims that Axar will continue as a player but won’t captain the side further. The all-rounder did a fairly good job as a captain in IPL 2025, leading the side to 7 wins from 14 matches and helping DC finish 5th on the points table.
DC have quite a few players to choose from for their new captain. First and foremost on the list is KL Rahul, who joined the side in IPL 2025 after being bought for Rs 14 crore. The Karnataka batter has prior captaincy experience, having led Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the past.
DC also have the liberty to name Faf du Plessis as the captain, should they desire to do so. The South African, who made his way to the team after being released by RCB ahead of IPL 2025, was named Axar’s deputy in the previous season. However, it remains unclear as to why DC would want to replace Axar as captain, especially after just one season.
If not for both these options, then DC also have the choice to go after a captain-like material in the IPL 2026 mini-auction that will be held later this year. With Rs 14.76 crore left in their purse, the team could might as well pursue other options.
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