“Could’ve restricted them to 150”: DC skipper Axar Patel

Delhi Capitals (DC) captain Axar Patel reflected on the challenges faced during their 47-run loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Sunday’s IPL 2024 match. Despite his own successful knock of 57 runs from 39 balls, DC struggled to contain RCB, who set a challenging target of 188 runs.

Axar highlighted the fielding errors that compounded his team’s difficulties. “Dropped catches hurt us. Could’ve restricted them to 150,” he remarked, noting the missed opportunities to hold RCB to a more manageable score. He observed that the pitch conditions varied, with some deliveries skidding and others holding up, complicating their chase.

The DC skipper also pinpointed the loss of key wickets in the powerplay as a pivotal moment that put his team on the back foot. “When you lose four wickets in powerplay, you’re always chasing the game,” Axar explained, emphasizing the difficulty in recovering from such early blows.

Looking ahead, Axar remained cautious about the team’s prospects, acknowledging the unpredictability of the game. “Anything can happen, but haven’t thought that far ahead,” he concluded, indicating a focus on immediate improvements rather than distant possibilities.