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Star Indian wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul has reportedly turned down the opportunity to become the new captain of Delhi Capitals (DC) for IPL 2025. According to a report by IANS on March 11, the 32-year-old right-hander was approached by the franchise owners to lead the team, but he declined, stating that he prefers to contribute as a player in the upcoming season.
Rahul, who has previously captained Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the IPL, was signed by Delhi Capitals for ₹14 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Axar Patel to Lead Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025
With Rahul stepping away from the leadership role, Delhi Capitals are set to name Axar Patel as their new captain. The 31-year-old all-rounder from Gujarat, who has been with DC since IPL 2019, was retained for ₹18 crore ahead of the 2025 auction.
A Delhi Capitals official told IANS:
"Yes, Axar Patel is likely to be named as Delhi Capitals' skipper for IPL 2025. The franchise had approached KL Rahul for the role, but he expressed his desire to focus purely as a player in this edition."
Axar’s Leadership Experience & IPL Journey
Axar Patel made his IPL captaincy debut for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024, leading the side against Royal Challengers Bengaluru when Rishabh Pant was suspended for an over-rate violation.
Axar Patel’s IPL Career Stats:
Matches: 150
Runs: 1653
Wickets: 123
He was also a key member of the Indian teams that won the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy. Having started his IPL career with Punjab Kings in 2014, he moved to Delhi Capitals in 2019 and has been a mainstay since.
KL Rahul’s IPL Career So Far
While Axar gears up for his new leadership role, KL Rahul has been a part of four different IPL teams over the years:
Teams Played For:
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
Punjab Kings (PBKS)
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
Rahul was not retained by LSG ahead of IPL 2025, despite being the team’s leading run-scorer in IPL 2024.
His decision to decline the Delhi Capitals captaincy suggests that he may be looking to rediscover his batting form without the additional pressure of leading a franchise.
What’s Next for Delhi Capitals?
With Axar Patel set to take over as captain, DC will be looking to build a strong squad around him.
KL Rahul’s presence as a key batter will still be a massive boost for the team.
Can Axar guide Delhi Capitals to their first-ever IPL title? The upcoming season promises to be an exciting one for the franchise!
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