NewKerala.com

DC Skipper Axar Patel Puzzled After Heavy Loss to RCB

Delhi Capitals skipper Axar Patel expressed confusion over his team's shocking batting collapse against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where they were reduced to 8/6 in four overs. Despite the heavy defeat, Axar emphasized the need to stay positive and focus on upcoming matches. The loss, DC's fifth in eight games, severely hampers their playoff chances as they must win all remaining matches. RCB's dominant performance, led by Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar's bowling, propelled them to second place in the points table.

Key Points: Axar Patel: Still Can't Understand DC's Loss to RCB

  • DC suffered a dramatic batting collapse at 8/6 against RCB
  • Axar Patel emphasizes staying positive despite the loss
  • Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood's bowling proved decisive
  • RCB climbs to second in points table with sixth win
3 min read

Still cannot understand what happened, need to stay positive: DC skipper Axar after loss to RCB

Delhi Capitals skipper Axar Patel expresses confusion over team's batting collapse against RCB, urges positivity despite fifth loss in eight IPL matches.

"I still cannot understand what happened. That is why they say you have to be on your toes at all times in cricket. - Axar Patel"

New Delhi, April 27

After his side's loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Delhi Capitals skipper Axar Patel expressed his inability to immediately come to terms with what had transpired with his team hours back, but highlighted the importance of being positive and continuing to do what they have been doing.

If fumbling a high-scoring run chase of 265 runs seemed like a one-off heartbreak, the defending champions had much worse in store for the Capitals as their fortress was breached again, with their team at one point struggling for breath at 8/6 in four overs. This is DC's fifth loss in eight games and for any chance at the playoffs, they have to win all their matches and pray that the other results also go their way.

Speaking during the post-match presentation, Axar highlighted the need to "stay on your toes in cricket" and the game is not about "ifs and buts".

"I still cannot understand what happened. That is why they say you have to be on your toes at all times in cricket. Ifs and buts will be there - like if we had taken that catch or taken that run (against GT). But each day, you have to be on your toes and keep doing what you have been doing well. You cannot take it easy for even one day. Rather than thinking about what has happened, think about what is to come. Even if you stay negative or positive, you still have to play. Tonight was a bad day. We have to be positive and do what we had been doing (earlier)," he added.

He hailed the quality of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood, who silenced the DC fortress in the powerplay and was not surprised by the movement they generated.

"(On the early movement on offer) I was not surprised. They (Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood) are world-class bowlers. One-two overs, if our openers and number three had batted, it could have been a different game," he signed off.

With this win, RCB have registered their sixth win in eight matches, with 12 points to their name. RCB are at number two in the points tally. This fifth defeat for DC, who have won three, keeps them at seventh spot in the points table.

RCB opted to field first, and excellent spells from Hazlewood (4/12) and Bhuvneshwar (3/5) reduced DC to 75 in 16.3 overs, with Abishek Porel (30) and David Miller (19) offering some resistance. RCB batters came out all guns blazing as Jacob Bethell (20 in 10 balls, with a four and two sixes), Devdutt Padikkal (34* in 13 balls, with three fours and three sixes), and Virat Kohli (25* in 13 balls, with a four and two sixes) sealed the chase in 6.3 overs.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

A
Arjun K
Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood showed why experience matters! RCB's bowling attack has been top-notch this season. DC's top order needs to learn from Kohli and Padikkal's approach - play proper cricket shots, not just slog from ball one. Feel bad for Axar, he deserves a better team effort.
R
Rahul R
Honest question - how does a professional team get bowled out for 75 in a 265-run chase? This isn't club cricket. Axar's positivity is admirable but someone needs to tell the batting unit that you can't win matches with individual brilliance alone. The middle order looks like a bunch of tail-enders with the bat. Absolutely gutted for the fans who came to support in large numbers. 😔
P
Priya S
Another day, another DC batting collapse. I've been saying this for weeks - the opening combination isn't working and the middle order has no backbone. Axar's captaincy is decent but he can't do everything himself. Time for some honest conversations in the dressing room. At least RCB played like champions today - well deserved win!
D
David E
The dichotomy of this IPL season - RCB scoring 263 one game and DC managing 75 the next. Axar is right to stay positive but the scoreboard doesn't lie. That Powerplay bowling from Bhuvneshwar was a masterclass in swing bowling. Cricket really is a game of glorious uncertainties!
K
Kavya N
As someone who was at the stadium tonight, the silence after 8/6 said it all. We came expecting a thriller after RCB's massive total, but

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50