Faf du Plessis is set to be Axar Patel's deputy at Delhi Capitals (DC) for IPL 2025. Du Plessis, who captained Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) until IPL 2024, was released by RCB ahead of last year's mega auction and was later picked up by DC for his base price of INR 2 crore (US$0.24 million). He was chosen over KL Rahul, another former IPL captain who joined DC this year.

Faf du Plessis, a former South African captain in all formats, made his IPL debut in 2012 when Chennai Super Kings signed him. He remained with CSK until 2015, then spent two seasons with Rising Pune Supergiants during CSK's suspension, before returning to CSK until 2021. In 2022, RCB acquired him, and with Virat Kohli stepping down as captain that season, du Plessis was handed the reins. He led the team for three seasons, and although RCB made the playoffs in 2022 and 2024, they are still in pursuit of their first title after 17 seasons.

Across his IPL career, the 40-year-old du Plessis has scored 4,571 runs in 145 matches, maintaining an average of 35.99 and a strike rate of 136.37. He continues to be active in franchise cricket and most recently featured for the Joburg Super Kings in the SA20 earlier this year.

Delhi Capitals have yet to win an IPL title, and they're determined to change that narrative. The franchise has revamped its structure, parting ways with Ricky Ponting and other staff members. Now, Hemang Badani takes the helm as head coach, supported by Matthew Mott as his assistant. Additionally, Kevin Pietersen steps in as the team mentor, while Munaf Patel, Venugopal Rao, and Vijay Bharadwaj assume key leadership roles.