Hemang Badani Endorses Axar Patel as Delhi Capitals' Captain for IPL 2026

Delhi Capitals' head coach Hemang Badani has confirmed Axar Patel as the captain for IPL 2026, citing the need for stability in leadership. The team aims to improve upon last season's fifth-place finish, starting their campaign against Lucknow Super Giants on April 1. With a solid squad and a focus on continuity, the Capitals are gearing up for a competitive season. Badani also addressed the ongoing regional issues affecting cricket, indicating that the BCCI is monitoring developments closely. Read on for more details about the team's strategy and schedule.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 23, 2026, 23:41 IST

Confidence in Axar Patel's Leadership

On Monday, Hemang Badani, the head coach of Delhi Capitals (DC), expressed his unwavering support for Axar Patel as the team's captain for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. He emphasized the significance of stability and familiarity in leadership roles, especially given the franchise's history of frequent changes. Badani stated, "I can't comment on past events as I wasn't part of that environment. My involvement began last year. As Veenu (Venugopal Rao) pointed out, we needed someone who has been with us, understands the fans, the ground, and the management. It was clear to us that Axar was the right choice, and we decided to continue with him. I believe we had a very successful season."

The Ideal Leader for the Team

Badani further remarked, "Axar has been part of the team for a long time and is a true Delhiite, making him the perfect candidate to lead us. He will continue as our captain for the upcoming season."

IPL 2026 Schedule and Previous Season's Results

In the previous season, the Delhi Capitals finished fifth in the points table, failing to qualify for the playoffs. With the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announcing the first phase of the IPL 2026 schedule, the Capitals will kick off their campaign against Lucknow Super Giants on April 1. Their subsequent matches include a face-off against Mumbai Indians on April 4, followed by games against Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings on April 8 and April 11, respectively.

BCCI Monitoring Regional Issues

When questioned about the Pakistan Cricket Board's decision to hold PSL 2026 without spectators due to the ongoing crisis in West Asia, Badani mentioned that the BCCI is closely monitoring the situation.

Delhi Capitals Squad for IPL 2026

The Delhi Capitals squad for IPL 2026 includes: Nitish Rana, Abishek Porel, Ajay Mandal, Ashutosh Sharma, Axar Patel, Dushmantha Chameera, Karun Nair, KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, Madhav Tiwari, Mitchell Starc, Sameer Rizvi, T Natarajan, Tripurana Vijay, Tristan Stubbs, Vipraj Nigam, David Miller, Ben Duckett, Auqib Nabi, Pathum Nissanka, Lungi Ngidi, Sahil Parakh, Prithvi Shaw, and Kyle Jamieson.