Delhi Capitals assistant coach Matthew Mott has showered praise on skipper Axar Patel, applauding the all-rounder's calm leadership style and inclusive approach. Under Axar’s captaincy, Delhi have had a flawless run in IPL 2025 so far, winning all their matches leading up to their next clash with Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Mott said that Axar brings an admirable balance between cricket and life to the dressing room, making sure the mood stays upbeat regardless of results.
“I found he's just got a great balance on cricket and life. A lot of the time, he'll just summarise the group and make sure the players are included. They're having fun and they've got a smile on their face. He talks a lot about that. We're well aware that when you're winning, it's all good. But I like to think he's got that character where if we do have a bad day, he'll be just as positive and the messages will be very similar,” Mott said.
He further emphasized that Axar’s strength as a leader comes from his willingness to collaborate and take advice from experienced players like KL Rahul and Faf du Plessis.
“He’s got a lot of experience to draw on. He doesn’t come across as if he wants to be the only voice. He wants to leverage off others and make sure he’s getting the best out of the people around him,” Mott added.
Providing a fitness update on vice-captain Faf du Plessis, Mott said that the South African veteran will be assessed by the team’s medical staff ahead of the game. Faf has been recovering from a minor niggle but is showing signs of improvement.
“The beauty of the schedule so far for us is we’ve had some really good breaks and he’s now had a good break. I think he’ll get assessed today by the physios with a view to playing. He certainly looks like he’s moving around a lot better from the naked eye... So, if he’s available or not, I think we can adapt, given the depth we have in our team,” Mott said.
Delhi Capitals remain one of the most consistent teams this season, and with Axar at the helm, the team seems to be thriving not just tactically but also in terms of dressing room harmony and spirit.
