“Need To Stay…," Axar Patel Gives Honest Reaction After DC's Loss To KKR

Aakash Saini

Axar Patel with Delhi Capitals teammates [Source: IPLT20.COM]Axar Patel with Delhi Capitals teammates [Source: IPLT20.COM]

Delhi Capitals slipped to a 14-run defeat to defending champions KKR in match number 48 of the IPL 2025 season. Chasing 205 for a win at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, the Capitals were cruising at 136-3 at one stage of the game before a colossal batting collapse deprived them of two crucial points on offer.

After the match, Capitals skipper Axar Patel lamented soft dismissals in his batting line-up, and urged the team to remain calm in crunch chases going ahead in the season.

Axar Patel Rues Delhi Capitals Defeat

While speaking during the post-match presentation ceremony, Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel stated that his team did not bowl well during KKR’s powerplay overs, and added that the match “turned on its head” due to the soft dismissals in the middle overs of the run-chase. He said:

“I think the way the wicket played, we didn't bowl well in the powerplay. We conceded 15-20 runs more and while chasing, calculation was not up to the mark. I think the match turned on it's head during those two to three soft dismissals.”

Axar Patel added that his bowlers did manage to fight back after the powerplay setback. The charismatic all-rounder believes that in big run-chases, batters need to have a “calm” approach at the crease. He added:

“I feel the way we fought back after bowling poorly in the powerplay. We restricted them to a chaseable score which was a positive sign for us. During the 2nd innings, 2-3 batters didn’t contribute but still the remaining 3-4 batters covered it up. We required a couple of big hits to secure the 2 points. We have lost close games in this season. So, in those situations you need to stay calm when you are batting in the middle.”

As it happened, KKR batted first and mounted 204-9 from 20 overs, with Angkrish Raghuvanshi (44 off 32) and Rinku Singh (36 off 25) turning out to be the biggest benefactors of the high-scoring innings. Axar Patel himself unfurled the spell of the innings by picking up the important wickets of Ajinkya Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer while conceding just 27 runs from his four overs.

In response, the Capitals squandered its pursuit at 190-9 despite Faf du Plessis’ 45-ball 62 and Patel’s swift 43.

The Delhi Capitals will now face the SRH franchise on Monday, May 5 in Hyderabad in match number 55 of the IPL 2025 season.