In a surprising turn of events, Rishabh Pant will not lead the Delhi Capitals in the upcoming IPL 2025 season. According to reliable sources from the Times of India, the franchise is considering appointing Axar Patel as the new captain. There is also speculation that Delhi Capitals may seek a captaincy candidate during the IPL auction, scheduled to take place overseas in mid-November.
Leadership Changes at Delhi Capitals
While Rishabh Pant remains the franchise’s top retention choice, management believes he may perform better without the added pressures of captaincy. A source close to the team stated, “Yes, the Delhi Capitals could be looking for a new captain. The leadership group feels that he’s better off without the pressures of captaincy.”
Pant’s leadership journey has been tumultuous. After returning from a serious car accident that sidelined him for over a year, he captained the team in IPL 2024, where they finished sixth with six wins and six losses. The last time Delhi Capitals reached the playoffs was in 2021, and their best performance came in 2020 when they finished as finalists under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy.
Potential Candidates for Captaincy
As the franchise prepares for the auction, one notable option could be Shreyas Iyer if he is not retained by Kolkata Knight Riders. Iyer led KKR to their third IPL title earlier this year and has proven leadership experience. However, Axar Patel and Mitchell Marsh have also emerged as potential captains for the franchise.
Recently, Pant met with co-owners Parth Jindal and Kiran Kumar Grandhi to discuss his future with the team. His recent social media activity also raised eyebrows; on October 12, he posted on X (formerly Twitter), questioning whether he would be sold at auction and for how much.
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Rishabh Pant’s Performance Overview
Despite being a match-winner for India in Test cricket, Pant’s white-ball performance has not matched his red-ball success. In T20 internationals, he has scored 1,209 runs at an average of 23.25 over 76 matches. His standout performance came during the 2024 T20 World Cup against Pakistan, where he scored 42 runs off just 31 balls in a tense low-scoring match.
In IPL history, Pant has amassed 3,284 runs in 111 matches at an average of 35.31, including one century and eighteen fifties. His contributions have made him one of Delhi Capitals’ all-time leading scorers.
In addition to potential changes in leadership, Delhi Capitals have also revamped their coaching staff. Hemang Badani has been appointed as head coach for the next two seasons, while Venugopal Rao takes over as Director of Cricket. These changes signal a new direction for the franchise as they aim for better results in future seasons.
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