IPL 2025: DC players unhappy? Blunt verdicts dropped on 'captain' Axar Patel

The Delhi Capitals (DC) players have dropped huge remarks on their new skipper, Axar Patel, ahead of the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

India veteran Karun Nair, South Africa star Tristan Stubbs, and young India wicketkeeper-batsman Abishek Porel shared their honest views on Axar Patel and were hopeful of Delhi Capitals (DC) having a great campaign in IPL 2025.

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Axar Patel pipped KL Rahul to take over Delhi Capitals captaincy

Following the exit of Rishabh Pant from the Delhi Capitals (DC), the franchise was in need of a new face to lead the team in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

All-rounder Axar Patel, who was the vice-captain in IPL 2023 and IPL 2024 and was the top retention of the franchise, emerged as the leading contender to become the skipper.

Also, KL Rahul was acquired by Delhi Capitals at the mega auction, and he, too, was in the race for captaincy, considering the leadership experience he brought to the table.

In the end, Axar Patel was made the captain, and reports emerged claiming that Rahul had himself rejected the role as he wanted to focus on his batting.

He's one of the best players around at the moment - Tristan Stubbs

Meanwhile, Proteas sensation Tristan Stubbs, who was retained by DC, said that Axar is one of the best players in the world and has shown his capability as a leader in the previous season.

"I think just having him in the team is a huge bonus. He's one of the best players around at the moment," Tristan Stubbs said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

"He captained the game last year [against RCB when Pant was suspended for a slow over rate], and he was really calm out in the middle, made the bowlers feel really calm. So hopefully he can do that this year, and we can feed off his energy."

Notably, Axar doesn't have a lot of experience as a skipper, but he was recently named India's vice-captain for England T20Is and led Gujarat in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy.

It'll be good for us too that he'll be there as a big brother - Abishek Porel

Talking about his skipper, the youngster Abishek Porel said that Axar has been a DC-guy for a very long time and he will be a big brother figure in the dressing room.

"It's great that Axar bhai will be leading the side. He has been playing for DC for three or four years [six years] now, so he understands the environment," Porel said.

"It'll be good for us too that he'll be there as a big brother. He's quite funny off the field, but at the same time, just as focused on it. So I'm really excited to play under his captaincy, and hopefully, we'll win the trophy."

Also, DC's new recruit Karun Nair predicted big things for Axar Patel, saying that he would be a great captain. He elaborated:

"Axar has been around for a long time now, and he is going to be a great captain. He is someone who knows all the facets of the game, and understands everyone's situation and roles. He will be versatile like he is always. [I'm] looking forward to meet him, and know a lot of things."