Axar Patel Reluctant to Continue as Delhi Capitals Captain

Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel is reportedly reluctant to continue in the leadership role for IPL 2027, creating an important decision for the franchise ahead of the upcoming auction. According to a report cited by NDTV Sports, the Capitals management is attempting to convince Patel to remain captain but has not finalised its decision.

The development comes as franchises prepare their retention and release plans ahead of the IPL 2027 auction, while trade discussions are also taking place across the league. Delhi, according to the report, have been involved in talks regarding potential trade moves and now face uncertainty over the captaincy.

Patel led Delhi in the previous two seasons, but the side did not qualify for the playoffs in either campaign. The report said the responsibility of leadership appeared to affect his returns with both bat and ball during IPL 2026, when he made 173 runs and claimed 11 wickets in 14 matches.

Delhi Capitals yet to make a captaincy call

Delhi Capitals are not ready to rule Patel out as captain, according to the report, although convincing him to continue could take time. The franchise has reportedly held off on naming its captain until after the auction, leaving the issue unresolved as planning for the 2027 season continues.

A source quoted in the report said Patel was “very reluctant” to stay on as captain, while adding that the management was trying to persuade him. The same source described Patel as important to the franchise and said the Capitals had turned down multiple lucrative trade offers during the season.

The reported rejection of trade approaches underlines Delhi’s apparent desire to retain Patel despite the uncertainty surrounding the captaincy. Multiple franchises were said to have contacted the Capitals about a potential deal involving the all-rounder, but those offers were not accepted.

For Delhi, the situation carries significance beyond simply selecting a captain. Patel remains a key player in the squad, and a decision on whether he continues as leader will be part of a broader period of change at the franchise. The report did not state whether Patel has asked to leave the team; it focused on his reluctance to retain the captaincy.

The question of who could lead Delhi if Patel does step aside is therefore still open. Rishabh Pant has returned to the franchise after two unsuccessful seasons with Lucknow Super Giants, but the report did not say that a final captaincy decision had been made in his favour or for any other player.

Restructured support staff ahead of December auction

Delhi Capitals have already made major changes to their set-up ahead of the auction scheduled for December. Sourav Ganguly has taken up the role of head coach, while Yuvraj Singh, Chaminda Vaas and Amit Mishra have joined the support staff.

Those appointments form part of a wider restructuring as the Capitals look ahead to the next IPL season. The return of Pant is another prominent change, and the report indicated that further high-profile developments could follow before IPL 2027.

For now, the immediate issue is Patel’s leadership position. Delhi’s management is reportedly working to retain him as captain, but the decision has been deferred until after the auction. Until then, the franchise’s captaincy plans remain one of the key unresolved matters in its preparations for IPL 2027.