DC captain for IPL 2027: Exploring possible options if Axar Patel steps down

DC captain for IPL 2027: Exploring possible options if Axar Patel steps down originally appeared on Cricket News . Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . KEY TAKEAWAYS: Axar Patel has reportedly expressed reluctance to continue as DC captain after two difficult IPL seasons. KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant are the two most experienced leadership options already available. Nitish Rana could also enter the conversation, having previously captained KKR . Axar Patel could step down as Delhi Capitals captain ahead of IPL 2027 Delhi Capitals may be looking at a new captain for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2027 season as current skipper Axar Patel is reportedly unwilling to lead the team again. As per a TOI report , Patel is not keen on continuing in the role because of two unsuccessful seasons. Delhi failed to qualify for the playoffs in both seasons, finishing fifth in 2025 and sixth in 2026. Though the management is trying to persuade the all-rounder to continue as skipper, a final decision will be taken after the mini-auction in December, as Patel may be willing to reconsider his stance on the matter. Apart from making a change in captaincy, Delhi have also reshuffled their coaching set-up, bringing back Sourav Ganguly to the franchise as head coach and Yuvraj Singh as assistant. There is no immediate threat to Axar's place in the side as Delhi have ruled out trading him prior to IPL 2027 despite rumours linking him to Chennai Super Kings. As Rishabh Pant comes back from Lucknow Super Giants and KL Rahul is already part of the squad, Delhi have good replacements available if Patel decides to leave the captaincy. MORE: Will IPL teams pick Bangladesh players at 2027 mini-auction? Players who could replace Axar Patel as next Delhi Capitals captain 1. KL Rahul BCCI/Creimas KL Rahul may become one of the most likely replacements as Delhi Capitals captain. The wicketkeeper-batter has already had the opportunity to demonstrate his skills as a captain in the IPL, taking turns to lead Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants. In addition, he has already gained experience as a leader on the international arena. In IPL 2026, Rahul scored 593 runs in 14 games for Delhi with an average of 45.62 and a strike rate of 174.41. The experience and stability of KL Rahul make him an excellent candidate for leadership of the team. MORE: ‘My captain Shreyas’: Pandya reacts after foregoing MI captaincy to join PBKS 2. Rishabh Pant Pant’s return to Delhi prior to IPL 2027 has made the leadership equation complicated for the franchise. The wicketkeeper-batter led DC from 2021 to 2024, when he took the franchise to the playoffs in 2021. In his tenure as a leader, Pant led the franchise to 43 IPL games in which he won 23 times. He then went to Lucknow Super Giants, but there too, Pant had only two seasons as a captain, and in both seasons, the franchise couldn’t reach the playoffs. Delhi’s decision to trade Kuldeep Yadav and bring back Pant might make Pant a legitimate candidate for the leadership role. MORE: IPL 2027 trade tracker: Complete list of all player and cash deals 3. Nitish Rana Nitish Rana is another potential pick for Delhi, especially if the franchise is looking outside its two senior players. He was named KKR captain after Shreyas Iyer suffered a leg injury and was ruled out of the tournament in 2023. In his 14-game stint as captain during IPL 2023, Rana was able to get six victories while losing eight games as Kolkata ended up at the seventh spot. Though this stint did not see him lead his team into the playoffs, this experience could play to his favour. MORE: Will IPL expand to 12 teams in IPL 2028? The Cricket News Opinion: KL Rahul could be the safest choice for Delhi Capitals Delhi Capitals have a captaincy conundrum as they head into the 2027 IPL, given that Axar Patel is not keen on leading the team. Pant is back, which means he is one of the obvious choices; however, giving him the leadership straightaway may prove to be too much pressure for him. As pointed out previously, R Ashwin advised DC to avoid naming Pant over KL Rahul as the captain. Rahul brings some experience with him in the leadership department since he was a captain in two IPL teams. Rana is also a choice for Delhi Capitals; however, he does not match the other two in terms of leadership experience. For all the latest cricket news, opinion, and commentary, and to share your voice, head to our Facebook , Instagram, and X (Twitter) pages.