Rishabh Pant is expected to be released from the Delhi Capitals camp, which is the latest development making headlines. However we need to wait for the DC retention announcements to see how things shape up in their mix, but there is no doubt that apart from the retention news, the mega auction is also expected to be big. Many top-quality players will likely go under the hammer, and this is a situation we haven’t seen in previous auctions. But, there are chances that they may not command larger amounts since the auction purse is limited to INR 120 crore.
Also, there are fixed retention slabs for the players that franchises will retain before the auction, making it difficult for teams to invest big amounts in just one player during the auction. Despite this, a few names, including the southpaw Rishabh Pant, may still command big amounts.
But as mentioned, speculation is high that Rishabh Pant may leave the DC franchise, then what about the captaincy of Delhi Capitals? Who are the players capable of filling Pant’s shoes? Since south paw has a decent record as DC captain, with a 53.48% win rate in 43 games, 23 wins and a playoff qualification in 2021. But can someone take the Capitals to even greater heights? See three players that DC can trust to lead the team if Pant is released ahead of IPL 2025
Players DC can target as captain for IPL 2025
Axar Patel
The first name for this post that is currently gaining a lot of traction is Axar Patel. Many believe that if Pant leaves, he would be the best option to captain DC. There is no question that Axar’s reputation has soared in the last two to three years, making him an asset to the DC camp and also for India. In his recent outings for India, especially in the shorter formats, he has consistently performed well. Not to forget, he played a crucial role in India’s triumph at the T20 World Cup 2024.
In the IPL, we have seen how he takes on bowlers when it is required the most; sometimes he fought like a lone warrior. Despite the team’s losses, his performances have garnered praise all around, and now there are chances we may see him as the DC skipper in IPL 2025.
Shreyas Iyer
From outside the camp, DC can look for Shreyas Iyer if KKR releases him before the auction, as Iyer is also expected to enter the IPL 2025 mega auction. It could be a homecoming for this Mumbai batter, as Shreyas Iyer has not only played for DC in the IPL but has also captained the team. Looking at DC’s history, when he was captain, Iyer had a winning percentage of 56.09%, which is still the highest for this franchise. There is no question that if Pant gets released, Iyer could be the player DC targets in the auction. And if they manage to get him on the team, he could be the new captain of DC in IPL 2025.
KL Rahul
The chances of DC going for KL Rahul are slim, as RCB could emerge as a big payer for the Karnataka batter if Rahul is released from the Lucknow Super Giants team, which now seems very likely. However, since both Rahul and Rishabh Pant share similarities in their cricketing attributes, particularly as wicketkeeper, if we assume that DC will release Rishabh Pant and look to acquire KL Rahul in the auction, they would get a wicketkeeper-batter to fill the role Pant has played for them in the past. And given Rahul’s impressive experience in leading IPL teams, whether with Punjab Kings or LSG, there is a strong chance DC could make him the clear choice for captain in IPL 2025 if he joins the team.
