Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Apr 17: Delhi Capitals skipper Axar Patel is relishing his captaincy stint, especially after guiding his team to a nail-biting Super Over victory against Rajasthan Royals in their sixth IPL 2025 clash at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday night.
Delhi posted a competitive 188/5 in their 20 overs, powered by strong batting displays from Abhishek Porel (49 off 37 balls), Tristan Stubbs (an unbeaten 34 off 18), and Axar Patel himself, who smashed a quickfire 34 off just 14 balls. Rajasthan Royals fought back with gritty half-centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Rana, taking the match down to the wire. However, Delhi’s ace pacer Mitchell Starc stole the spotlight in the Super Over, sealing the win for the home side.
Speaking to the media after the match, Axar opened up about the win, his leadership approach, team dynamics, and personal form.
"I'm really enjoying the responsibility of captaincy," he said. "I’ve captained in domestic cricket, so I’m comfortable in this role. The best part is when you get to implement your ideas and lead the team in your own style. It gives you a different level of satisfaction—both on and off the field."
Reflecting on the Super Over drama with a smile, Axar added, "Aisi situation mein main hi kyun aajata hoon? (Why do I always end up in these situations?) But honestly, these are the moments where a team's character really shines through. It made me proud to see the way our boys handled the pressure and pulled off the win."
The captain was also full of praise for Mitchell Starc, whose clutch performance with the ball in the dying stages proved decisive. “Reverse swing is tough, but executing it under pressure is another level. Starc nailed it tonight,” Axar noted. “We had already discussed field placements in team meetings. All I told him was to trust himself. Being a big-match player and a legend for Australia, he knows exactly what to do, especially in crunch moments like the death overs.”
On his own batting role, Axar shared, “I’ve been in good rhythm for the past year and a half. I try to adapt based on what the team needs. Today, we wanted to maintain a left-right combination, so I came in later than usual. It’s all about team strategy, and I’m happy to play my part.”
With this thrilling win, Delhi Capitals climbed to the top of the points table, registering their fifth victory in six games and collecting 10 points. Their next challenge will be an away match against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on Saturday.