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Axar Patel to Lead Delhi Capitals Again in IPL 2026, Says Coach

Delhi Capitals head coach Hemang Badani has confirmed Axar Patel will continue as the team's captain for the upcoming IPL 2026 season. Badani emphasized that Patel's long association with the franchise and understanding of its environment made him the straightforward choice. The Capitals, who missed the playoffs last season, will begin their campaign against Lucknow Super Giants on April 1. The coach also noted the BCCI is monitoring the West Asia situation regarding its potential impact.

Key Points: Axar Patel Confirmed as Delhi Capitals Captain for IPL 2026

  • Coach reaffirms Axar Patel as captain
  • Emphasis on continuity and familiarity
  • DC finished fifth last season
  • Squad includes KL Rahul, Mitchell Starc
  • Season opener vs Lucknow Super Giants
2 min read

"No better person to lead the side...": Delhi Capitals head coach on Axar Patel

Delhi Capitals head coach Hemang Badani reaffirms Axar Patel as captain for IPL 2026, citing continuity and his deep connection to the franchise.

"No better person to lead the side than him. - Hemang Badani"

New Delhi, March 23

Delhi Capitals head coach Hemang Badani on Monday reaffirmed his confidence in Axar Patel as the franchise's captain for Indian Premier League 2026, highlighting the importance of continuity and familiarity at the top amid a history of frequent leadership changes.

"I can't really speak of what's happened in the past because I haven't been a part of this environment. I have been with them since last year. As Veenu (Venugopal Rao) mentioned, we had to look at somebody who has been with us, who understands the people, understands the fans, understands the ground, the environment, the management and it was quite straightforward for us that Axar was the man. And hence we have also again tried to stick with him. I thought we had a very, very good season," he said at a press conference

Badani said Axar's deep understanding of the team environment and strong connection with the fans make him the ideal choice to lead Delhi Capitals once again.

"And he's been around for a long time. And also a long-standing Delhiite, Delhi Capitals boy. No better person to lead the side than him. And here again, he's here as the leader for us come season two."

Last season, Delhi Capitals, who have yet to win an IPL title, finished fifth on the points table, missing out on a playoff berth. With the schedule of the first phase of IPL 2026 announced by BCCI, Delhi Capitals will begin their season campaign against Lucknow Super Giants on April 1.

Their next clash will be against the Mumbai Indians on April 4, followed by their matches against the Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings on April 8 and April 11, respectively.

Asked about Pakistan Cricket Board's decision that PSL 2026 will be held without spectators due to the ongoing West Asia crisis and any impact of the crisis on the franchisees, he said BCCI is keeping an eye on the developments.

Delhi Capitals squad for IPL 2026:

Nitish Rana, Abishek Porel, Ajay Mandal, Ashutosh Sharma, Axar Patel, Dushmantha Chameera, Karun Nair, KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, Madhav Tiwari, Mitchell Starc, Sameer Rizvi, T Natarajan, Tripurana Vijay, Tristan Stubbs, Vipraj Nigam, David Miller, Ben Duckett, Auqib Nabi, Pathum Nissanka, Lungi Ngidi, Sahil Parakh, Prithvi Shaw, Kyle Jamieson.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Sarah B
As a neutral fan, I think this is a good decision. Axar Patel has shown great maturity as a player. Continuity is key in a tournament like the IPL. The squad looks decent on paper, but the real test will be converting that into wins.
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Vikram M
Respectfully, I have to disagree with the coach. While Axar is a fantastic all-rounder, I'm not fully convinced about his tactical acumen as a captain. Last season we missed the playoffs. Maybe a fresh, aggressive leader was needed? Just my two paise.
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Ananya R
Love this! Axar bhaiya has the calmness we need. The team has a good mix of youth and experience. Excited to see Prithvi Shaw back in form and what Mitchell Starc can do. Hoping for a great season! #DelhiCapitals 💙
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Karthik V
The squad looks strong, but the real question is about the middle order. Also, starting against LSG and MI is a tough fixture. Coach Badani seems confident, so let's back the team. Jai Hind!
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Michael C
Interesting to see the focus on continuity. In other leagues, they often chase the next big name for captaincy. Axar's connection with the local fans is a huge intangible asset. Hope it translates to success on the field.

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