From Hardik Pandya To Axar Patel: IPL Captaincy Turns Match-Winners Into Liabilities

Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel [Source: AFP, AP]

Captaincy in the Indian Premier League (IPL) carries its own prestige, bringing both limelight and authority. As tactical responsibilities mount and margins tighten, the weight of steering billion-dollar franchises can leave even proven match-winners weighed down.

The ongoing IPL 2026 season has further underscored this paradox, with leadership duties increasingly coinciding with a visible dip in individual outputs among captains of several franchises.

IPL captains who have become liabilities over the years

Several IPL captains have seen their individual impact gradually diminish under the weight of IPL leadership over the past few years. While some players seem to thrive under captaincy pressure, others like Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel among others have seemingly struggled to replicate their usual match-winning influence while leading their respective teams.

Here’s a closer look at some of such captains and how their performances have tapered while leading their sides.

1. Hardik Pandya

Ever since Hardik Pandya rejoined the Mumbai Indians franchise, and as captain, back in IPL 2024, his returns with both bat and ball have proven to be underwhelming. A charismatic match-winner for Team India through and through, the cricketer is yet to score a single half-century as Mumbai Indians skipper despite playing 37 matches for them in his second stint so far.

Also Read- Hardik Pandya Reveals Root Cause For Mumbai Indians' Crushing Defeat vs CSK

Even though Pandya led the Gujarat Titans to a historic title win in IPL 2022, his numbers as a player during his first seven seasons with the Mumbai Indians franchise stand in stark contrast to his current returns.

Hardik Pandya as MI player and as captain/player:

Beyond the evident dip in his individual impact, Pandya’s captaincy itself has lacked the consistency and authority expected at this level. While much was expected from the man who led Gujarat Titans to title glory in their first attempt, he has led Mumbai Indians to just 15 wins against 22 defeats from 37 matches to hold a dismal success rate of 40.54 percent.

2. Axar Patel

Axar Patel, a veteran of 171 IPL games, has played 103 of them for the Delhi Capitals since joining the franchise back in IPL 2019. While he served the Capitals as a leader on an interim basis in 2024, he was appointed as team’s full-time captain in 2025 following the exit of Rishabh Pant.

Under his leadership, the franchise came agonizingly close in securing a playoffs finish in 2025. His individual impact, however, has not matched the same consistency he previously delivered, especially with the ball.

Axar Patel as DC player and as captain/player:

After leading the team to a respectable fifth-place finish in IPL 2025, it appears that the cricketer has also struggled to assert the same authority and clarity as a leader on the field in the ongoing IPL 2026 season.

3. Rishabh Pant

Since joining the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) franchise as captain in IPL 2025, Rishabh Pant’s otherwise decorated IPL career seems to have undergone a noticeable shift, both as a player and as captain.

Also Read- Virender Sehwag Calls Kane Williamson, Justin Langer 'Brainless' Amid LSG's Poor IPL 2026 Run

After bringing a competitive edge to the Delhi Capitals during his stint as captain, much was expected of him when Sanjiv Goenka invested nearly US$3 million to secure his services. So far, however, Pant has failed to justify his hefty price tag on every count.

In his maiden IPL season for the LSG back in 2025, the cricketer underwent one of the worst phases of his career, scoring just 269 runs in 13 innings which including 118* in a single game. Even in IPL 2026, the blistering wicketkeeper-batter has aggregated runs at a below-par average as he also failed to inspire his troops, especially in some crunch games.

Rishabh Pant overall IPL career vs his performance as LSG captain:

As captain, Pant led the LSG franchise to a dismal seventh-place finish in IPL 2025. In the ongoing IPL 2026 season, his team is currently languishing at the bottom of the points table, further compounding their struggles.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the IPL has repeatedly proven that captaincy is not a natural extension of any individual’s brilliance. Not every exceptional player is inherently suited to leadership, and franchise owners and team managements must resist the urge of equating individual excellence with captaincy credentials.

Even Ruturaj Gaikwad has struggled to carry on MS Dhoni’s captaincy legacy. In his case, at least, the prolific top-order batter has continued to score with the same proficiency as he did before taking over the leadership role.

In contrast, Riyan Parag has shown encouraging signs as a captain for the Rajasthan Royals franchise, even though his individual returns with the bat have not been as impactful.

Going ahead, the Delhi Capitals and LSG franchises might contemplate considering alternate captaincy options for future IPL seasons.

Even the Mumbai Indians management might consider sidelining Hardik Pandya as its captain. After all, the franchise already boasts two of India’s T20 World Cup-winning captains in its ranks.

Also Read- Shubman Gill Breaks Silence On His Marriage Intentions