Axar Patel’s Batting Struggles Deepen as KKR Spinners Strangle Delhi Capitals
Axar Patel’s challenging campaign reached a historic low on Friday night at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The Delhi Capitals captain recorded the second-lowest batting average for a skipper in Indian Premier League history during a frustrating loss to the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Historically Low Batting Metrics
With just 44 runs across 11 matches, Patel is averaging a mere 6.28. This statistical drop places him just above Shane Warne’s 2010 season in the record books for captains who have batted at least seven innings. Furthermore, Patel’s strike rate has plummeted to 74.57, the absolute lowest among all batters facing a minimum of 50 deliveries in the current tournament.
Lowest Batting Averages by IPL Captains (Min. 7 Innings)
| Player | Season | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Shane Warne | 2010 | 2.00 |
| Axar Patel | 2026 | 6.28 |
| Eoin Morgan | 2021 | 11.08 |
| Harbhajan Singh | 2012 | 12.00 |
| R Ashwin | 2018 | 12.75 |
KKR Spinners Dominate the Middle Overs
Delhi’s batting woes extended beyond their captain. Despite Pathum Nissanka’s composed half-century and KL Rahul’s 23 at the top of the order, the middle order imploded against Kolkata’s spin attack. The bowling group featuring Sunil Narine, Anukul Roy, and Varun Chakaravarthy suffocated the scoring rate to trigger a massive collapse.
- Sunil Narine dismissed Sameer Rizvi shortly after returning to the attack.
- Anukul Roy delivered a double blow by removing Nissanka and trapping Tristan Stubbs in the exact same over.
A Perform or Perish Situation
Delhi Capitals coaching staff member Hemang Badani bluntly labeled the current scenario a “perform or perish” situation for the franchise. The team narrowly avoided a sub-100 total solely due to Ashutosh Sharma’s late counterattack, which yielded 39 runs off 28 balls. As the tournament progresses, fixing Patel’s form and stabilizing the middle order remain immediate priorities for Delhi’s survival in the competition.