The camaraderie between former Delhi Capitals teammates Axar Patel and Rishabh Pant stole the spotlight during the toss ceremony of their Indian Premier League 2025 season opener at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Monday.
In a heartwarming display of friendship that transcends team rivalries, the duo—now captaining different franchises—shared a moment that perfectly captured the spirit of the IPL’s unique blend of competition and camaraderie.
Axar Patel, making his debut as Delhi Capitals’ new skipper, walked out for the toss alongside Rishabh Pant, who recently took the helm at Lucknow Super Giants. The two greeted each other with a warm embrace, engaging in animated conversation filled with smiles as they awaited the coin toss.
When Axar won the toss and elected to bowl first, Pant couldn’t resist a playful jibe at his former teammate. “Batting first, batting first,” Pant cheekily chanted, causing both captains to erupt in laughter. The genuine warmth between these two Indian cricket stars set a positive tone ahead of what promised to be an intense battle on the field.
Explaining his strategic decision, Axar cited potential dew factors later in the game: “We are going to bowl first. It’s the dew factor, we don’t want to take any risk. I have played with Pant before—he knows me, and I know him. We know our tricks. I have played a lot for the Capitals and have been part of the leadership group for three years. I need to think like a leader now.”
Pant, maintaining his characteristic positive demeanor despite losing the toss, responded: “I wanted to bowl first, but it’s a good wicket, so we can bat well and put up a good score. I have played for DC all my life, so there’s a lot of emotion there. Preparations have been good; everyone is in the right shape and frame of mind.”
The moment highlighted the deep bond and mutual respect between these two Indian cricket stars who have shared many memorable partnerships for Delhi Capitals in previous seasons. Their friendship, evident in this brief exchange, underscored how player relationships in the IPL often transcend the boundaries of franchise loyalties.
Both captains are at pivotal moments in their careers. For Axar, this marks his first major captaincy role, taking over a Delhi Capitals side that has consistently reached the playoffs but has yet to claim the coveted IPL trophy. The all-rounder has steadily grown as a leader within the DC setup over the past three seasons.
For Pant, this season represents a triumphant return to competitive cricket and leadership after a challenging period recovering from injuries sustained in a serious car accident in December 2022. His appointment as Lucknow Super Giants captain signals both the franchise’s faith in his leadership abilities and his own remarkable comeback journey.
As the teams took to the field for this highly anticipated clash, fans were treated to not just the promise of exciting cricket, but also a reminder of the special bonds formed through the IPL—bonds that remain even as players move between franchises.
The match marks the beginning of what promises to be one of the most competitive IPL seasons yet, with both Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants harboring serious ambitions of lifting the trophy come the end of the tournament.