Apna toh dil se rishta hai…no one can take your place: Axar Patel’s heartwarming message for Rishabh Pant

Delhi Capitals’ vice-captain for the upcoming season, Axar Patel has a heartwarming message for captain Rishabh Pant, who’ll be missing the upcoming season owing to the injuries he sustained after his accident last year.
In a recent Delhi Capitals video on social media, Axar said, “I am continuously in touch with him. I told him, ‘Bhai dekh, apna toh dil se rishta hai (We have a deep bond). Whether I come to see you or not, I’m there for you.”
“Our main leader is injured. We will miss you a lot bhai. Recover quickly, we’ll take care of the upcoming season but we’ll always need you. No one can take your place. The entire Delhi team and support staff is praying for his quick recovery and that he returns to cricket soon,” he added.

🗣: Apna toh dil se rishta hai 🤗
📽 | Bapu’s 💌 for #RP17 is giving us massive friendship goals 🥺💙#YehHaiNayiDilli #IPL2023 | @akshar2026 | @RishabhPant17 pic.twitter.com/aHreNpsH92
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) March 30, 2023
In Pant’s absence, Axar will be deputy to David Warner in IPL 2023. The Indian all-rounder, who was with the national side in the recently concluded Test and ODI series, joined the DC squad recently ahead of their opener against Lucknow Super Giants on Saturday, April 1.
“I was feeling very good when I joined, met Ricky (Ponting) and everyone else. I’ve been with the franchise for 3-4 years now. It’s a new role for me,” Axar said on being appointed as the vice-captain. “In my view, if you get this role it means you’re growing as a senior player. It matters for all you’ve done for the team. You’re getting rewarded for your performance. I’m excited about it and we know that our team is mostly the same as it has been for the last 3-4 years. With Davi(d Warner), my responsibility will be to get the best out of players.”

“We had a practice match but I had only returned today, so the coach asked me not to take any risk and only attend the practice session,” he added.
Axar has been in fine form with the bat of late. In 2023 so far, the southpaw has so far scored 444 runs across 13 innings in all formats for India this year. This includes four half centuries, two of which Axar scored in India’s Test wins against Australia in Nagpur and Delhi.
The Capitals will play their first home game on Tuesday, April 4 against defending champions Gujarat Titans.