‘It Affects You’: Axar Patel Gets Honest About Delhi Capitals Captaincy Pressure During Poor Form

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Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel admitted that poor personal form can affect a captain mentally but stressed that leadership requires looking beyond individual performance and focusing on team success.

Speaking during the Delhi Capitals press conference ahead of IPL 2026, Axar addressed a question on how captains handle situations when their own performances dip during a tournament. The all-rounder acknowledged that such phases can be difficult but emphasised the importance of maintaining perspective as a leader.

Axar Patel on his Delhi Capitals Captaincy

Axar openly admitted that personal struggles do affect players emotionally, especially when they are leading a team.

"Obviously it affects you because we are all human. If your personal performance is not going well, it does affect you at a personal level."

However, he explained that reacting emotionally or focusing only on individual performance could negatively impact the team.

"If it affects you and you react with anger or disappointment, you still have to lead the team. At the same time, you cannot think only about yourself."

Axar said that leadership responsibilities naturally shift focus from personal results to overall team performance.

"When you are part of the leadership group, you start thinking differently. Even if your performance is not going well, you start looking at how the team is performing, what they are doing, and how they are progressing."

He added that while personal disappointment is natural, captains must resist the urge to prioritise individual numbers over team goals.

"You cannot think that my runs are not coming, so I will focus only on myself. If you do that, the team may not perform well."

Axar Patel Says Team Success Brings Satisfaction Despite Personal Struggles

Axar explained that satisfaction as a captain ultimately comes from team results rather than individual statistics.

"Personally it does affect you, and you keep thinking about what you can do better or how you can improve your own game."

"But when you look at the bigger picture-when the team is winning and doing well-then you feel satisfied that the team has done well. That gives you happiness."

His remarks reflect the mental balance required in leadership roles, especially in high-pressure tournaments like the IPL where captains are expected to perform both individually and strategically.

Delhi Capitals Coach Hemang Badani Says Supporting The Captain Is Crucial

Delhi Capitals head coach Hemang Badani also weighed in on the discussion, emphasising the importance of supporting captains as players first.

"You obviously want your captain also to be a performing captain, but recognize the fact that the captain also is a player first and the player turns out to be a captain with time."

Badani explained that part of the coaching role involves identifying whether a captain's struggles are technical or mental and ensuring he remains confident.

"I also have to care for him and make sure that he is in a good space to go out there, perform his duties as a player, and also go out there as a leader and do his job."

With Axar Patel entering another season as Delhi Capitals captain, managing personal form alongside leadership duties is expected to be a key challenge as the team aims for a strong IPL 2026 campaign.