Axar Patel Slams Bowlers After Delhi Capitals’ Humiliating 10-Wicket Defeat to Gujarat Titans
In a stunning display of dominance, the Gujarat Titans handed Delhi Capitals a brutal 10-wicket defeat at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday, leaving DC’s playoff hopes hanging by a thread. A visibly frustrated DC captain, Axar Patel, didn’t hold back in his post-match comments, pointing fingers at his bowling unit for their lackluster performance in a game that saw Gujarat chase down a competitive total with ease.
Delhi Capitals, who had started their IPL campaign with an impressive run of five consecutive wins, have now stumbled into a rough patch. With this defeat, their record stands at six wins, five losses, and one no-result, accumulating just 13 points. Their chances of making it to the playoffs now appear increasingly slim, and Axar made it clear that urgent improvements are needed. ‘Our fielding and bowling, especially in the powerplay, must step up if we’re to turn this around,’ he remarked during the post-match presentation.
Batting first, Delhi Capitals put up a competitive total of 199/3 in their 20 overs. Despite losing opener Faf du Plessis early, a solid 90-run partnership between KL Rahul and young gun Abishek Porel (30 off 19 balls, including a four and three sixes) steadied the ship. Late flourishes from Axar himself (25 off 16 balls, with two fours and a six) and Tristan Stubbs (21* off 10 balls, with two sixes) provided the much-needed impetus. ‘We thought it was a par score. KL batted brilliantly, and we had a strong finish. Despite the last few games, our batting was a positive today,’ Axar reflected.
However, Delhi’s bowlers were completely outclassed by a rampant Gujarat Titans batting lineup. Openers Shubman Gill (93* off 53 balls, with three fours and seven sixes) and Sai Sudharsan (108* off 61 balls, with 12 fours and four sixes) forged an unbeaten 205-run partnership, chasing down the target with an over to spare. Axar couldn’t help but praise the opposition, admitting that the wicket improved in the second innings. ‘The ball came on nicely after the break. It didn’t grip as much as it did in the first innings, and losing no wickets made their chase even smoother,’ he noted.
The loss exposed Delhi’s vulnerabilities, particularly in their bowling attack, which failed to create pressure or take wickets at crucial junctures. Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans, with this victory, have solidified their position at the top of the table, boasting nine wins and just three losses, accumulating 18 points and securing their spot in the playoffs. For Delhi, the road ahead looks daunting, and Axar’s call for improvement couldn’t have come at a more critical time.
As the IPL season reaches its business end, the question remains: Can Delhi Capitals regroup and rediscover their early-season form, or will this crushing defeat mark the beginning of the end for their campaign? Only time will tell, but for now, Axar Patel and his men have a mountain to climb.