Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Nov 14: India all-rounder and Delhi Capitals skipper Axar Patel has taken a strong stance against what he calls a misplaced obsession with English-speaking skills and outward “personality” traits in deciding cricket captains.
Speaking to The Indian Express ahead of India’s first Test against South Africa, Axar questioned the long-standing belief that only players fluent in English or those with a certain body language are considered “captaincy material.”
“People start saying, ‘Oh he is not captaincy material, he doesn’t speak English. How will he talk?’ Arre! Captain’s work is not to just talk,” Axar remarked. “Captain’s work is to know the player and see how to get the best out of him — what’s his strength, what’s his weakness.”
Calling the perception socially rooted and not cricket-based, he explained, “If we say ‘personality chahiye, acha English bolna chahiye’ — that’s a perception made by the public based on their own thinking. It’s important that people change this mindset. There should be no language barrier in captaincy.”
Axar said much of this bias comes from what fans observe on television and social media. “It’s all about what you see and what the media is showing. How active you are on social media. How you talk. People judge you on all that,” he noted. “Everyone likes to give opinions these days — who is capable, who isn’t.”
Reflecting on his stint as Delhi Capitals captain, Axar said he tries to maintain a cheerful but disciplined team environment. “I want to keep the team atmosphere friendly and lively, but no one should take things for granted. There’s a line — what needs to be done to win the game comes first. After that, we have fun,” he said.
He added that he relies on instinct rather than any fixed leadership model. “I am not too experienced as a captain, but it’s not like I’m running to others for guidance. I listen to everyone but I back myself. You need to know what you are doing right and what you are doing wrong,” he said.
Axar will be a key part of India’s setup as the team prepares to take on South Africa in the upcoming Test series.