Axar Patel mentioned that he and the Delhi Capitals (DC) aren’t sure if KL Rahul will play in their IPL 2025 opener against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Vizag on Monday. Rahul has joined the team, but he and his wife, actress Athiya Shetty, are expecting their first baby soon, which might keep him out of the starting lineup.
DC wants to kick off the IPL 2025 season on a strong note. Rahul was considered for captaincy and brings a lot of experience to a squad filled with younger players. They’re hoping his knowledge from playing and captaining LSG for three years will help them out. Axar mentioned in the pre-match press conference, “He joined the team, and we know he has some personal stuff going on. We don’t really know yet if he’ll be available. If he shows up, we’ll check in to see how he’s doing and let you know tomorrow morning.”
Axar also shared his thoughts on captaincy, saying he plans to keep things straightforward, focusing on execution and allowing players to express themselves. “At the end of the day, I don’t want to overthink things. Cricket is just a game—let’s keep it simple. If we execute well, everything else will fall into place. I just want everyone to remember that,” he explained.
“The players are eager to make a mark for the franchise. With a new team and captain, we haven’t played together much, but our mindset is clear: we want to go out there, play freely, and enjoy ourselves. Everyone is really committed to giving it their all, and the vibe in the DC family is great.”
As for LSG, they’ll be facing a familiar face in Rishabh Pant, who was DC’s captain before being released ahead of the IPL 2025 auction and later signed for a hefty price by LSG.
Axar also shared his thoughts on the IPL’s decision to lift the ban on using saliva on the ball, saying it could be beneficial for bowlers, especially with the way the game has been favoring batters lately.
. “Cricket has always been a contest between bat and ball, but it feels like it’s leaning too much towards the batters now. Lifting the saliva ban gives bowlers a bit of an edge. Even a little deviation can make a big difference in the outcome. The new rule about changing the ball between overs 11-20 is also a good move for fielding teams in the second innings. I’m fully on board with it,” he mentioned.
