New Delhi: When the Delhi Capitals declared Axar Patel as their captain, the conversation surrounding the decision felt somewhat uncertain. With KL Rahul and Faf du Plessis in the roster, the franchise – still pursuing their inaugural IPL title – made the choice to name a new captain. It was a risk, yet the 31-year-old has proven to be an unexpected asset.

After eight matches, DC stands at the top of the points table alongside Gujarat Titans with eight victories and 12 points. While their batting and bowling units appear to be coming together, what also seems to be working is Axar’s composed and steady leadership.

He is the antithesis of domineering. Neither boisterous nor extravagant, and he appears to have the trust of his teammates. His relaxed demeanor is alleviating stress for his bowlers and reducing tension for the batters, and perhaps that’s what a team seeking to rectify past mistakes needed.

“He doesn’t complicate things,” his teammate Mohit Sharma remarked during a media interaction. “He keeps it light even if things aren’t going our way. He says, ‘What’s happened has happened, what’s going to happen will happen — but we can control the controllables. ’”

Man-management

Rahul, for example, felt the weight of pressure while captaining Lucknow Super Giants. Without delving into specifics, he had mentioned to broadcasters prior to the season that he was seeking a fresh start in a locker room with a positive team atmosphere.

Axar’s DC appears to be the perfect fit. Rahul has accumulated 323 runs in seven matches, boasting an average of 64. 60 thus far.

His handling of Kuldeep Yadav is yet another illustration of his subtle yet effective man-management. Rather than overworking or underutilizing him, Axar has approached his resources with the objective of minimizing mistakes and maximizing returns. The outcome is Kuldeep’s growing self-assurance and his rise in the wicket-takers list with 12 wickets in 8 matches at an economy of 6. 5.

In addition to the victories he has guided DC to, he has also been in fine form with the bat himself, having scored 174 runs in 8 matches at an average of 29. He made significant contributions against Rajasthan Royals, Gujarat Titans, and Lucknow Super Giants. While he may not have bowled as effectively as he would have preferred – having taken just one wicket against RR – that could be attributed to his palm injury.

He has faith in himself. He relies on his instincts. However, he also understands when to take a step back — as he did in the match against RR, sending Tristan Stubbs in front of him. Even at times when he could have pursued individual achievements, Axar hasn’t really overstepped his boundaries as captain.

“It’s tempting to promote yourself up the order as a captain,” he humorously acknowledged in a press conference. “But this is a team game. I have to put the team first. ”

Striking a balance

In a format where captains are anticipated to be hyper-tactical and analytical, Axar finds a middle ground between instinct and strategy. For example, he opted to adapt against RR, encouraging Mitchell Starc to target yorkers against RR, despite the pitch favouring short bouncers.

“We strategize in the background,” he clarifies, “but I also consider who’s currently performing well, the kind of day someone is experiencing… at times you trust your player even if it contradicts the data. ”

Even when circumstances don’t unfold as planned, unlike many captains, he analyzes his mistakes in the post-match presentation. There seems to be an eagerness to accept accountability while lightening the load with a touch of humor.

“I can’t speak for others, but I think that if you err, then what’s the issue with acknowledging it? ” he remarked. “It’s not truly a mistake per se… they represent tactical choices. Sometimes they succeed, sometimes they fail. ”

Humorous and always playful, he might bring joy to the dressing-room but with a playful reputation like that, one also risks being underestimated. “They can read from my expression if I am slightly upset or serious,” he chuckled. “I prefer to maintain a vibrant atmosphere but I have also established a boundary. You invest effort on the field, and I don’t mind what you do. But the effort comes first. ”

It’s in this exact balance between being playful and being earnest, between instinct and strategy that Axar’s leadership seems to be flourishing. Not flashy or confrontational but subtly effective. With six more matches remaining, he will face additional challenges, yet he could indeed become DC’s crucial missing piece.

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