Delhi Capitals To Betray KL Rahul For IPL 2025 Captaincy? Report Drops Bombshell

The leading all-rounder of the Delhi Capitals (DC) side, Axar Patel, and the new wicket-keeper batter, KL Rahul, are the two contenders for the potential leadership ahead of IPL 2025. Both carry a huge amount of experience and multi-skills.

Even though the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have already announced their new leader, Delhi Capitals are taking time before making the final decision.

Delhi Capitals to announce new IPL 2025 leader in next few days- report

The reports have claimed that Delhi was waiting for the end of the recently concluded Champions Trophy at the Dubai International Stadium, where both Axar and Rahul participated and enjoyed the winning moment by lifting the trophy.

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They will have a short-training-cum-simulation camp in the city before flying to Visakhapatnam for their first two opening games. Axar, Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, all of whom will gather at the venue on March 17 and 18 alongside the two Australians Jake Fraser-McGurk and Mitchell Starc and South Africa’s Tristan Stubbs.

The reports have also dropped the news that Rahul and his wife Athiya Shetty are expecting their first baby, which could make the senior batter miss a couple of games on the due date.

Axar Patel and KL Rahul’s performance in the IPL

India’s left-arm spin all-rounder, Axar Patel, has smashed 1653 runs in 113 innings at an average of 21.46 and a strike rate of 130.87, shouldering on three half-centuries at the best score of 66. With the ball, he has pocketed 123 wickets in 148 innings at an average of 30.55 and an economy rate of 7.27, thanks to the best bowling figure of 4/21 in an innings.

In the previous season of the event, the southpaw clubbed 235 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 131.28, thanks to two half-centuries at the best score of 66. Even with the ball, he pocketed 11 wickets in 14 innings at an average of 30.63.

Before the Delhi Capitals, KL Rahul has collected 4683 runs in 123 innings at an average of 45.46 and a strike rate of 134.60, shouldering on 37 half-centuries and four centuries at the best score of unbeaten 132 runs. In the previous edition of the event, he gathered 520 runs in 14 innings at a strike rate of 136.12.

However, many questioned the batter’s slow strike rate, as he was engaged in a heated argument with the owner of his previous franchise, Lucknow Super Giants, after their defeat against the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

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Rahul will have a huge job on his shoulders for the Delhi Capitals as he will replace Rishab Pant in the 2025 season. Pant led the side for the last three seasons, excluding 2023, when he was out of action due to the unfortunate accident.

Delhi Capitals to start IPL 2025 campaign on March 24

The franchise has also received a huge blow with middle-order batter Harry Brook opting out of the season due to personal reasons and is in danger of getting banned for the next two editions.

Delhi Capitals will start their IPL 2025 campaign against the Lucknow Super Giants on March 24 in Vishakhapatnam. Their first home game at the Arun Jaitley stadium will be on April 13 against the Mumbai Indians before they host the Rajasthan Royals at the same venue on April 16. The tournament’s final will take place on May 25 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.