Delhi Capitals have named seasoned South African batter Faf du Plessis as their vice-captain for IPL 2025. The 40-year-old, who led Royal Challengers Bengaluru for three seasons, was released ahead of the mega auction and picked up by DC at his base price of ₹2 crore. He will now serve as deputy to Axar Patel, who has been appointed the full-time captain.
A veteran of the tournament, Faf du Plessis has previously played for Chennai Super Kings, RCB, and the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiants. With 4,571 runs in 145 IPL matches at a strike rate of 136.36, his experience will be invaluable for DC. The franchise had been on the lookout for a new leader after releasing Rishabh Pant in 2024 and failing to buy him back, as Lucknow Super Giants acquired him for a record ₹27 crore.
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Axar Patel, retained by DC for ₹16.5 crore, has been a key all-rounder for the team. Having played 82 matches, he has scored 967 runs and taken 62 wickets. His leadership qualities and consistency made him the ideal choice to take over the captaincy.
Pick up your phones, it’s your vice-captain calling 💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/W3AkYO4QKZ
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) March 17, 2025
Speaking about his new role, Axar Patel expressed confidence in the squad assembled at the auction. “I’ve grown as a cricketer and a human being during my time with the Capitals. The management has put together a well-balanced squad with plenty of leaders, and I can’t wait to lead this team to success,” he said.
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In his IPL career, Axar has played 150 matches, amassing 1,653 runs and claiming 123 wickets. His standout moment came in 2016 when he picked up a hat-trick for Punjab Kings, taking four wickets in five balls against Gujarat Lions.
