Indian all-rounder Axar Patel has referred to as for a change in mindset concerning the notion of management in cricket. He believes {that a} participant’s capability to steer – whether or not in worldwide cricket or the IPL – shouldn’t be judged by the language they communicate.
Talking to The Indian Specific forward of India’s first Check in opposition to South Africa, the Gujarat cricketer challenged the long-standing notion that solely those that are fluent in English or possess a sure model or demeanor are thought-about “captaincy materials.” Axar emphasised that communication and management come from readability of thought and intent, not language proficiency.
“Folks begin saying ‘oh he isn’t a captaincy materials, he would not communicate English. How will he speak? Yeh hai, voh hai’. Arre! Captain’s work is to not simply speak,” Axar advised Indian Specific. “Captain’s work is to know the participant and see how you can get the most effective out of him – what’s his energy, what’s his weak spot. Captain is aware of that I’ve this participant and what I have to do to get work out of him.”
“If we are saying ‘persona chahiye, acha English bolna chahiye’ – that is a notion made by the general public primarily based on their very own pondering,” he defined. “It is necessary that individuals have to vary their private pondering. Cease pondering ‘oh his persona is nice, he can communicate English – so he’s captain materials’. One factor about captaincy is there ought to be no language barrier.”
“It is all about what you see and what the media is displaying. How energetic you’re on social media. The way you speak. Folks decide you on all that,” he stated. “Everybody likes to offer opinions lately – he’s succesful, he isn’t succesful, make him captain, do not make him captain.”
Main a staff full-time for the primary time, Axar Patel had a good outing as captain of Delhi Capitals throughout IPL 2025 season. Underneath his management, the franchise completed fifth on the factors desk, falling simply wanting a playoff berth.
Reflecting on his captaincy journey, Axar shared that his strategy focuses on discovering the appropriate steadiness between protecting the staff setting relaxed and sustaining self-discipline and professionalism on and off the sector.
“I need to maintain the staff setting pleasant and vigorous, however nobody ought to take issues without any consideration,” he stated. “There is a line – what must be completed to win the sport must be completed first. Then we must always have enjoyable. It is working in the mean time. I imagine that when you’re having enjoyable, you do higher.”