NEW DELHI: Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel has so far passed the captaincy test with flying colours, with the franchise winning five out of six games under his leadership.
Despite unrelenting scrutiny, he seems to have carved out a unique captaincy philosophy. His leadership style is neither a rigid blueprint drawn in the war rooms of analysts nor a reckless plunge into the whims of ‘gut feeling’. Axar has struck the perfect balance.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!On Wednesday, after leading DC to their fifth win, Axar said, “I’m having a lot of fun,both on and off the field. I’m doing what I think is right. I’m not following a template. I back myself. I’m not too experienced (as a leader) but it’s not like I am turning to other people for help.
“I listen to everyone, but I back myself for the decisions I’m making. You need to know what you’re doing right and what you’re doing wrong. I’m enjoying myself so far,” Axar said when asked about his approach towards captaincy.
Axar described his “captaincy style” as neither purely instinctive nor entirely data-dependent but rather a middle ground where both elements coexist.
“It’s not like I only go by my instincts,” he said. “There is a lot of planning in the background. That (planning) is important for my awareness, and it’s useful at times. But it’s not like I have all the data in front of me and I am following it word for word. It doesn’t work like that.
“Sometimes someone is playing well and is in form. I observe that as a captain, and I decide based on the match situation. I take a call based on what I think is best for the team. I choose the option thinking what will work best. Am I taking a gamble? I go by what, in my mind, is 60-40 or 70-30 in my team’s favour. The data is important to know the opposition – their strengths and weaknesses.”
Get the latest IPL 2025 updates on Times of India, including match schedules, team squads, points table and IPL live score for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Don't miss the list of players in the race for IPL Orange Cap and IPL Purple cap. Hindol Basu is a Principal Correspondent with the The Times of In...
Read MoreHindol Basu is a Principal Correspondent with the The Times of India. Over the years, as a sports journalist, Hindol has covered important events like the 2012 London Olympics, 2008 Beijing Olympics, 2010 Commonwealth Games and the 2011 Cricket World Cup. Hindol has had a diverse profile having worked in all forms of media - TV, Radio, New Media and Print. Besides, being an avid blogger, Hindol plays the guitar, writes poetry and is interested in photography.
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