IPL 2026: Shocking! Delhi Capitals sack Axar Patel as captain after just one season, all set to name KL Rahul as new skipper - Reports

Delhi Capitals (DC) finished fifth last year under the leadership of Axar Patel.

A shocking update is doing the rounds from the Delhi Capitals (DC) camp, as Axar Patel is all set to be sacked as a captain, as per the reports from News 24. The reports also claimed that the franchise will be handing over the leadership duties to KL Rahul ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.

Having captained DC in 2025, Axar Patel’s team got off to an incredible start, but lost steam midway, and eventually narrowly failed to secure qualification for playoffs.

However, Axar’s decision making did come under heavy scrutiny, mainly revolving around field placements and bowling changes during the match. His ability to communicate and keep every member of the team motivated is questionable as well, since most post-match talks were done by KL Rahul.

It was earlier reported that Rahul himself denied captaincy in 2025, as he wanted to focus on his batting. But things have seemed to change now, and it appears as though the Mangalorean is all set to don the captaincy hat once again.

KL Rahul has captained LSG and PBKS in IPL

KL Rahul has previously captained both Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Punjab Kings (PBKS), but his tenures with the two franchises ended on uneasy notes, shaped largely by differences with ownership and team management.

This move presents Rahul with a chance to reset the narrative. DC offer a well-balanced squad rich in both talent and experience, and with head coach Hemang Badani and mentor Kevin Pietersen in the setup, the environment appears primed for clarity and support.

Rahul was frequently seen rallying his teammates through the highs and lows of last season, showcasing his leadership presence even without the official armband. As he steps into this role, he will aim to continue his form with the bat while ensuring the added responsibility of captaincy does not weigh him down.

With a settled support system around him, Rahul will hope this alignment finally helps the Capitals end their IPL title drought and allows him to grow into the leader the franchise has long sought.

Delhi Capitals squad for IPL 2026

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

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