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3 Reasons Why DC Should Pick Faf Du Plessis As Their Next Captain Over Axar Patel

Abhinav Tyagi

Faf Du Plessis and Axar Patel - (DCFanClub/X.com)Faf Du Plessis and Axar Patel - (DCFanClub/X.com)

The IPL 2025 begins on March 22, with RCB taking on KKR at the Eden Gardens Stadium. Ahead of the upcoming season, Delhi Capitals have still a lot of decisions to make as the 2020-runners up are the only team left to name a captain. 

There are reports that Axar Patel is the front-runner to lead the Capitals for IPL 2025. Earlier, KL Rahul too was in the mix of things, but reports suggest that the former LSG captain wants to just play as a batter. One more name that DC can experiment is Faf du Plessis and this article will focus on three reasons why Faf should captain Delhi over Axar Patel in IPL 2025. 

1. Vast Experience As A Captain In the IPL

Coming to IPL, Delhi are still searching for their maiden IPL title. They had Rishabh Pant as their captain for many years, but the southpaw will now lead the Super Giants. With several changes in the team and new players coming in, the role of a captain gets more highlighted. 

Thus, experience plays a big role and Faf has a massive edge over Axar on that front. Talking about their captaincy record in IPL, then Du Plessis led the RCB from 2022-24, where RCB qualified for the playoffs twice. 

If we talk about numbers then Axar has led a side just once in IPL for Delhi in 2024 that too ended up in a loss for him. Meanwhile, the 42-year-old has captained a side 42 times in IPL and enjoys a 50% win percentage. 

Du Plessis Captaincy Record

Criteria
Data
Matches 42
Won21
Lost21
Win%50%


2. Performance Remains Unaffected As A Captain

One of the rare qualities of Faf is that the pressure of captaincy doesn't affect his batting. Usually, a player's performance gets affected when they lead a team as seen with SKY for India in T20Is. 

Although, if we look at Faf's stats then he was rock solid with the bat, particularly from 2022-24. In fact, Du Plessis best season with the bat came in 2023 when he scored 730 runs with the bat and also led RCB. His performance in 2023 also saw four fifties but no century. 

Du Plessis' IPL Seasons As Captain

Season
Matches
Runs
Average
50/100
IPL 20221646831.603/0
IPL 20231473056.158/0
IPL 20241543829.204/0


3. Guiding Kings' Franchise To Their Maiden Title

While we mentioned and discussed about Faf's experience in the first point, it is also worth noting that he plays entire year across nations in different T20 leagues. Further, he also led St Lucia Kings to CPL title in October 2024. It was the first-ever title in a T20 league for the Kings franchise.

Since, DC are also looking for their maiden IPL title, then they should utilise Faf's experience and how he manages his players.