Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra wants Delhi Capitals to back all-rounder Axar Patel as captain ahead of KL Rahul. While DC retained Patel before the IPL 2025 mega auction, they were able to rope in the services of KL Rahul for INR 14 crore.
Patel doesn’t have any leadership experience in the IPL whereas Rahul has led Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants in the tournament. Rahul led LSG to two playoffs in IPL 2022 and 2023 and he has been a consistent performer for his team.
On the other hand, Patel scored 235 runs in 14 matches of IPL 2024 whereas he picked 11 wickets in as many games.
“Who will be the captain? Their situation is like KKR. It could be Axar Patel. I don’t mind him being the captain. If you give me the option, I would say make Axar the captain. He is extremely underrated, very mature, fantastic performer, and he will run the team very well. He is someone who will command respect,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
The renowned commentator wants the franchise to give the captaincy baton to Axar Patel ahead of Faf du Plessis and KL Rahul.
“KL Rahul could be the other option. The third could be Faf du Plessis if they wish so, but they might not play Faf from the start because they used the Right To Match card for Jake Fraser-McGurk. So I am thinking between Axar and Rahul but the management hasn’t given any clarity yet. My vote goes towards Axar because his performances on this ground have been exceptional,” he observed.
Meanwhile, KL Rahul was roped in for INR 14 crore by the Capitals in the auction and Chopra reckons it was a steal deal for the franchise.
“When they couldn’t take Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant, they said they were getting KL Rahul for ₹14 crore. An absolute steal buy. Someone might say fair price, but I would say an absolute steal because it is a very small ground and has a flat pitch,” he said.
“So if Rahul has the fire within because he has taken a pay cut, he must be hurting because he used to be a team’s captain and has been one of the most consistent players in the IPL, this could be the season where he is out there to prove what he can do. If someone is stopping KL Rahul from playing destructively, it’s KL Rahul,” Chopra elaborated.
The 2025 edition will begin on 14 March 2025, with the final scheduled for 25 May 2025.
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