Two Champions Trophy 2025 victors vying for captaincy of IPL franchise Delhi Capitals
Delhi Capitals Captaincy Race: Axar Patel vs KL Rahul
With the Champions Trophy coming to an end, the Delhi Capitals are gearing up to announce their new captain for the upcoming Indian Premier League season. The two main contenders for the captaincy role are all-rounder Axar Patel and senior keeper-batter KL Rahul.
Axar Patel Leading the Race
Axar Patel, the multi-skilled Gujarat man, seems to have a slight edge over KL Rahul in the captaincy race. Into his seventh season with the Capitals, Axar has a wealth of experience in the IPL, having played 150 games. He has scored 1653 runs at a strike rate of nearly 131 and taken 123 wickets at an economy rate of 7.28.
KL Rahul’s Captaincy Experience
On the other hand, KL Rahul, who will be playing for Delhi Capitals for the first time, has captained in the IPL before. He led Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants in the past, with LSG reaching two play-offs during his tenure. Rahul has scored 4683 runs in the IPL at a strike-rate of 134 plus, with four centuries to his name.
Delhi Capitals Squad Composition
The composition of the Delhi Capitals squad makes it challenging to have a foreigner as captain, with the exception of South Africa’s Tristan Stubbs. Stubbs is likely to be a key player for the Capitals across all conditions, making him a strong candidate for the captaincy role if the franchise decides to go with a foreign skipper.
Training Camp and Schedule
Delhi Capitals will have a short training-cum-simulation camp in Delhi before heading to Visakhapatnam for their first two games. Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, Australian Jake Fraser McGurk, and Mitchell Starc are set to gather in Visakhapatnam on March 17 and 18.
Potential Absence of KL Rahul
KL Rahul and his wife Athiya Shetty are expecting their first child, which could potentially lead to Rahul missing a game or two depending on the due date. This situation adds another layer of complexity to the captaincy decision for the Delhi Capitals.
Final Decision Coming Soon
The Delhi Capitals management is expected to announce the new captain in the next few days, as the team prepares for the upcoming IPL season. Both Axar Patel and KL Rahul bring unique strengths and experiences to the table, making the captaincy decision a crucial one for the franchise. Stay tuned for more updates on the Delhi Capitals captaincy race.
Topics mentioned in this article: IPL, Delhi Capitals, Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Captaincy, Indian Premier League.