Axar Patel sat down for a pre-season press conference ahead of IPL 2026 and ended up sparking two separate conversations — one about temple visits and one about a controversial IPL rule that he, Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya have all taken issue with.

On the Temple Tradition

The Indian cricket team’s habit of visiting temples during tournaments has become increasingly visible over the last couple of years. During the T20 World Cup 2026, players visited temples before several matches, and right after India beat New Zealand by 96 runs to win the title at the Narendra Modi Stadium on March 8, captain Suryakumar Yadav, head coach Gautam Gambhir and ICC chairman Jay Shah took the trophy to the Hanuman Temple in Ahmedabad the same night. They later also visited the Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai with the trophy.

During the tournament itself, Axar, Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma were among the players spotted at the Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai before the semi-final.

When asked about this tradition and whether it would continue during IPL 2026, Axar gave a straightforward and relaxed answer.

“Temple visits are not a bad thing. We go to temples where otherwise we wouldn’t be able to go. We have security with us during tournaments.”

His point was simple — as cricketers under constant security cover, visiting temples that are normally difficult to access becomes possible during tournaments, and there is nothing wrong with taking that opportunity.

“I Don’t Like It” — Axar Takes On the Impact Player Rule

The second topic Axar addressed was sharper. The Impact Player rule, which allows teams to bring in a substitute at any point in a match to replace one of the eleven, has been a talking point since it was introduced in 2023 and will remain in place at least until 2027.

As a genuine all-rounder, Axar has a personal stake in the debate.

“I don’t like this rule as I am an all-rounder myself. Earlier we used to pick an all-rounder for this role — batting and bowling. Now team management goes with a particular batter or bowler, they say why do we need an all-rounder?”

“Being an all-rounder myself I don’t like it, but at the same time rules are rules. We have to follow them. But personally I don’t like it.”

His concern is one that has been echoed by some of Indian cricket’s biggest names. Rohit Sharma said in 2024 that the rule hampers the development of all-rounders in Indian cricket, while Hardik Pandya followed up the next season saying it had made it almost impossible to justify picking an all-rounder unless they were elite with both bat and ball.

Axar himself experienced the rule’s effects in 2024, when his bowling numbers dipped as he managed a finger injury. However, he bounced back with strong batting form in IPL 2025, proving his value as a player even within the constraints of the rule.

A Captain With Views

Axar will lead Delhi Capitals in his second season as skipper in IPL 2026. DC open their campaign against Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on April 1. The team is also awaiting news on Mitchell Starc’s NOC from Cricket Australia, adding another uncertainty to Axar’s pre-season planning.

Whether it is about the team’s spiritual practices or the rules of the league he plays in, Axar Patel is clearly a captain who is not afraid to speak his mind.