Delhi Capitals (DC) will be under new management, with Parth Jindal’s JSW taking over from GMR management. DC has hired a new head coach, Sourav Ganguly, and an assistant coach, Yuvraj Singh. However, reports have stated that Axar Patel, who led them in IPL 2025 and 2026, is no longer interested in captaining the franchise.
Still, the team, now led by new head coach Sourav Ganguly, wants to keep Axar and is working to persuade the all-rounder to stay. Even so, the final decision on the captaincy will likely come out only after the IPL 2027 mini-auction takes place. In the meantime, let’s look at three possible captaincy choices for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2027 in case Axar turns down the role.
Here are the 3 players who can lead Delhi Capitals in IPL 2027:
3. Nitish Rana
Nitish Rana rarely features in such debates, yet he is a savvy choice with credible leadership experience at various levels. KKR made him captain in IPL 2023 after Shreyas Iyer was ruled out, and he led the team to six wins in 14 games, finishing seventh. The added responsibility also lifted his own game: 413 runs at 31.77 with a strike rate of 140.96. He also boasts a strong record captaining Delhi’s white-ball side, and being a local player with the Delhi Capitals (DC) adds another dimension to his case as a leadership candidate.
2. Tristan Stubbs
Tristan Stubbs has become a mainstay of Delhi Capitals’ middle order in the three seasons he has been with the franchise. He has made 378, 300, and 275 runs in the three seasons and has been a brilliant finisher for the DC team. Stubbs has shown great captaincy potential and is a regular in South African white-ball squads, having played 52 T20Is, 17 ODIs, and 15 Tests thus far. He has a secured spot in DC XI, and maybe it’s time DC tries an overseas player as captain after trusting so many Indian talents.
1. KL Rahul
It may be that KL Rahul is the biggest name from India for DC right now. Rahul has been with the team since IPL 2025, scoring 539 and 593 runs in the previous two seasons. He holds the record for the most runs for Delhi in the previous two tournaments. Rahul has captaincy experience with India, Punjab Kings, and Lucknow Super Giants. What DC needs is a name who can lead through the huge change that comes with being a year away from the playoffs and needs a bit of faith too. KL Rahul can offer that because he has done it for five seasons in the IPL with coolness in his head.
