IPL 2025: KL Rahul rejects Delhi Capitals captaincy, new skipper finalized

Axar Patel and KL Rahul are in the race for Delhi Capitals (DC) captaincy for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. According to the latest report, Axar Patel is likely to become the Delhi Capitals captain after delivering an impressive all-round performance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 victory.

Axar Patel was retained for ₹16.50 crore, while KL Rahul (₹14 crore) was acquired at the auction in Jeddah. KL Rahul has previous IPL captaincy experience with Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Meanwhile, Axar Patel was never a full-time IPL captain but led Gujarat in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Axar Patel or KL Rahul - Who Will Lead Delhi Capitals?

Axar Patel is expected to be named the Delhi Capitals (DC) captain for IPL 2025, according to IANS. The franchise considered KL Rahul for the leadership role, but he preferred to contribute as a player rather than take on the captaincy.

“Yes, Axar Patel is likely to be named as Delhi Capitals skipper for IPL 2025. The franchise had asked for KL Rahul to be the team's captain, but he very much wishes to contribute for the side as a player in the upcoming tournament,” sources told IANS on Tuesday.

Axar Patel Set to Captain Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025

Axar Patel captained Delhi Capitals (DC) in IPL 2024 when Rishabh Pant was suspended for an over-rate offense. The all-rounder is now set to take over as full-time skipper for IPL 2025. He has been with the Delhi-based franchise since 2019 and was retained for a whopping ₹18 crore ahead of the mega auction.

Axar has scored 1,653 runs in 150 IPL matches at a strike rate of 130.88 and taken 123 wickets at an economy of 7.28. He recently served as India’s vice-captain in their 4-1 T20I series win over England. However, leading DC will be a major challenge as the franchise continues its pursuit of a maiden IPL title.

KL Rahul Rejects Delhi Capitals Captaincy

Rahul has IPL captaincy experience, having led two franchises between 2020 and 2024. He first captained Punjab Kings (PBKS) in 2020 and 2021, guiding them to sixth-place finishes in both seasons. However, PBKS have fared worse since his departure.

Rahul then moved to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in 2022 and guided them to the playoffs in their debut season. He missed half of the 2023 season due to injury, but LSG still secured a playoff spot. However, LSG finished seventh in the 2024 season, failing to qualify for the playoffs for the first time.

Overall, Rahul has 31 wins and 31 losses in 64 IPL matches. He is the skipper with the joint-eighth most wins in league history. The experienced wicketkeeper-batter has also led the Indian national team across formats.

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