Star India all-rounder Axar Patel arrived in Ahmedabad in the wee hours of Tuesday, after playing a crucial role in India’s Champions Trophy triumph in Dubai on Sunday, March 9, when they beat New Zealand by four wickets. Axar, who was one of the four spinners that India deployed since their group stage match against the Kiwis, bowled some very economic spells, besides building crucial partnerships with top and middle order batters. Axar was cordoned off by security men from the airport as he waved and acknowledged the fans awaiting his arrival. Watch the video here: #WATCH | Gujarat | Indian Cricketer Axar Patel arrives at the Ahmedabad Airport. Indian Cricket Team defeated New Zealand to lift its third #ICCChampionsTrophy at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on March 9. pic.twitter.com/1mXM4jhkrs — ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2025 Axar was named on Monday as the 12th player in ICC’s team of the tournament in the Champions Trophy. He contributed with the ball, taking five wickets and with the bat, putting in a total of 109 runs, including 29 in the final. Axar is expected to join the Delhi Capitals camp within the next few days, with IPL 2025 starting in 11 days. Axar and India wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul are the two contenders for Delhi’s leadership in the upcoming IPL 2025, with the former having his nose ahead. Axar, Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, South Africa’s Tristan Stubbs, Aussie Jake Fraser McGurk and Mitchell Starc are all set to gather in Vishakhapatnam on March 17 and 18. Into his seventh season with Delhi, Axar, who has played 150 IPL matches, scored 1653 runs at a strike rate of 130.88 and took 123 wickets at an economy rate of 7.28, looks the frontrunner to lead the side than Rahul, who will be donning the Delhi blues for the first time. Axar’s leadership at the IPL level isn’t yet proven, while Rahul has led for a few years. According to a report in PTI, the team bigwigs will be announcing the name of their new skipper in some days, having waited for the Champions Trophy to end. Delhi will have a short training and simulation camp in the city before flying to Vishakhapatnam for their first two matches.