Star Indian all-rounder Axar Patel has reflected on a persistent misconception in Indian cricket - the tendency to judge a captain's leadership potential based on how fluently he speaks English or how well he presents himself in public.
Speaking to The Indian Express ahead of India's first Test against South Africa at Eden Gardens, the 31-year-old reflected on how this perception often overshadows the real qualities that define a good leader. Patel, who led the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025 during Rishabh Pant's absence, said leadership should be measured by one's understanding of players, not by their command of language or polish in front of cameras.
"People start saying, 'Oh, he's not captaincy material, he doesn't speak English. How will he talk?'
Arre! Captain's work is not to just talk. 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," Axar said.
Patel noted that cricket leadership is often misrepresented due to societal perceptions that value personality and communication skills over tactical insight. "If we say 'personality chahiye, acha English bolna chahiye' - that's a perception made by the public based on their own thinking. I captained Delhi Capitals this year and got a lot of praise. I think if more of this happens, more will change in the coming time," he added.
The left-arm all-rounder also spoke about how the current culture of image-building and online visibility has blurred the line between perception and reality. "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. Everyone likes to give opinions these days - he's capable, he's not capable, make him captain, don't make him captain," he said.
Patel emphasized that those within the cricket circle truly understand a player's value and contribution, regardless of outside chatter. "People in cricket know what's the value of a player. At the end of the day, that's what matters - what the people around you think. So yeah, just do your job," he concluded.
Patel will feature in India's two-Test series against South Africa, starting November 14 in Kolkata - marking his much-awaited return to red-ball cricket after nearly nine months.
