3 Cricketers who could have been a better choice than Axar Patel for DC captaincy

3 Cricketers who could have been a better choice than Axar Patel for DC captaincy (Photo Source – Twitter/X)

Star all rounder Axar Patel was named as the captain of Delhi Capitals (DC) on Friday, March 14, ahead of the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025). He will have the responsibility of leading the franchise to a first-ever IPL title.

Axar was appointed as India’s vice-captain in the shortest format in January. He has also led his state team, Gujarat, in 23 matches across formats. Axar is the team’s longest-serving player, having been roped in by the team in 2019. He was retained by the Capitals ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction for INR 16.50 crore.

While most fans welcomed the move, some expressed concerns about his experience which isn’t too extensive. Also, the 31-year-old, being an all-rounder, already has a lot of responsibility. Giving someone else the captaincy could have helped him solely focus on his skill sets with the bat and ball.

3 candidates who could’ve been chosen as captain barring Patidar

3. Karun Nair

Karun Nair reunited with Delhi Capitals for INR 50 lakh as he was signed by the franchise in the mega auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The right-handed batter has had a splendid time with the bat in domestic cricket in the 2024-25 season. Nair spent two seasons at Delhi Capitals in IPL 2016 and 2017, when they were named Delhi Daredevils. Nair also led the team in three matches after Zaheer Khan suffered an injury in the 2017 season.

He also has a lot of experience leading sides in domestic cricket. Under his leadership, Mysuru Warriors won the Maharaja Trophy in September 2024. Nair has a calm head and that could have helped him lead the side through crunch situations.

2. Faf du Plessis

Faf du Plessis has the experience of leading South Africa in international cricket and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL. He led RCB in the last three seasons of the cash-rich league and helped them reach the playoffs in two of them. Du Plessis recently led Joburg Super Kings to the Eliminator in SA20 2025, scoring 286 with the bat in 10 innings.

Du Plessis is an aggressive captain who knows how to bring the best out of his players. He could have added a lot of stability to the franchise as well. The right-handed batter has scored over 400 runs in each of the last five seasons in the IPL. He may not have been appointed as the captain but he will surely be there in the leadership group, helping Axar with his inputs when necessary.

Also Read: IPL 2025 injury updates: Uncertainty over Jasprit Bumrah’s return, Sanju Samson nears clearance

1. KL Rahul

Delhi Capitals acquired the services of the talented KL Rahul for INR 14 crore in the mega auction. It was expected that the Karnataka wicketkeeper-batter would lead the franchise after his experience of captaining Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants in previous seasons. He has also captained India in an interim capacity across formats.

However, reports suggest that Rahul declined captaincy, expressing his wish to help the team as a player. He also congratulated Axar soon after his appointment. While the reports have not been validated, if they are true, then that settles it. However, if there was a scope for appointing him as the captain, it could have been the best option. With Rahul, there is a high probability of getting runs at the top of the order. He also has a composed persona and it rubs off on his teammates.

Disclaimer: This latest news is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.

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