Delhi Capitals have appointed Faf du Plessis, the former captain of South Africa, as their vice-captain for the forthcoming 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Du Plessis will serve as the deputy to Axar Patel during IPL 2025. The right-handed batsman was acquired by Delhi Capitals in the mega auction after being released by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

There had been expectations that KL Rahul, the wicketkeeper-batter who captained LSG in the previous IPL season, would assume the vice-captaincy. However, the management has chosen to appoint Faf du Plessis instead.

The Delhi Capitals announced this decision through a video shared on social media, featuring Faf du Plessis walking through the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi while conversing on the phone.

"Hello. I am doing well, how about you? I’m at home, where else would I be? Yes, it’s true. I am the vice-captain of DC, and I am very excited. Delhi has been wonderful, and the team has been fantastic. I definitely feel happy and ready," Faf du Plessis stated.

In the caption, Delhi Capitals encouraged fans by saying, "Pick up your phones; it’s your vice-captain calling."

During the major auction in Saudi Arabia, the Delhi Capitals acquired Faf du Plessis for INR 2 crore. Many fans speculated that he would not be included in the franchise's starting lineup. However, the last-minute withdrawal of Harry Brook may have prompted a change in strategy. The Capitals had previously invested INR 6.25 crore to secure the England batsman.

Despite Faf du Plessis's commendable performance over his three-year tenure, the franchise chose not to retain him. In the 2024 season, he played a pivotal role in RCB's resurgence, amassing 438 runs. At one point, RCB found themselves at the bottom of the standings, but they managed to string together a series of victories, ultimately surpassing the Chennai Super Kings to reach the playoffs.

In the 2023 season, Faf du Plessis recorded 730 runs, while he scored 468 runs in the 2022 season.

Axar Patel to lead Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025

Delhi Capitals have officially named Axar Patel as their captain for the forthcoming season of the lucrative league. Alongside him, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, and Abhishek Porel have also been retained by the franchise.

The team invested INR 18 crore to secure Axar Patel's retention. Upon his appointment as captain, Axar Patel expressed, “It is a tremendous honour to lead the Delhi Capitals, and I am sincerely thankful to our owners and support staff for their trust in me.”

He further stated, “My journey with the Capitals has contributed significantly to my growth as both a cricketer and an individual, and I feel prepared and confident to guide this team moving forward. Our coaching staff and scouts have excelled at the mega auction, assembling a well-rounded and formidable squad with great potential.”

Despite competing for 17 seasons, the Delhi Capitals have yet to clinch an IPL title, and it remains to be seen if they can overcome this hurdle in the upcoming season. The team will kick off their campaign on Monday, March 24, against the Lucknow Super Giants.

The Delhi Capitals squad includes: Axar Patel (c), Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, Abhishek Porel, Mitchell Starc, KL Rahul, Jake Fraser-McGurk, T Natarajan, Karun Nair, Sameer Rizvi, Ashutosh Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Faf du Plessis, Mukesh Kumar, Darshan Nalkande, Vipraj Nigam, Dushmantha Chameera, Donovan Ferreira, Ajay Mandal, Manvanth Kumar, Tripurana Vijay, and Madhav Tiwari. 

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