With a big smile on his face, Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel acknowledged that some of his on-field decisions might have raised eyebrows, but thanks to Ashutosh Sharma’s heroics, DC snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in a one-wicket thriller against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2025.
Axar on His Captaincy Decisions
Axar’s decision-making during the first innings caught attention, particularly when he brought Tristan Stubbs to bowl the 13th over against Nicholas Pooran, instead of using an experienced spinner like Kuldeep Yadav or a pacer.
- Pooran took full advantage, smashing four consecutive sixes, collecting 28 runs, and tilting the game in LSG’s favor.
- Axar admitted that had DC lost, his captaincy would have been questioned heavily.
🗣️ “Make it a habit that this is how it’s going to be under my captaincy. My decision-making is also a bit up and down, so anything can happen. Sometimes there will be anger also [from fans]. Right now, we won, so no one will say anything.”
DC’s Comeback: From 250+ Threat to Restricting LSG Below 210
Axar acknowledged DC’s sloppy start, where LSG looked set to breach the 250-run mark.
- Sameer Rizvi’s dropped catch of Pooran proved costly as the West Indian went on a rampage.
- However, DC’s bowlers pulled things back in the last seven overs, restricting LSG to 209/8.
🗣️ “The way they played the first six overs, I felt we gave away too many runs. We dropped a catch too. But we stopped them well in the last seven overs. So we had the momentum.”
Ashutosh Sharma & Vipraj Nigam: The Unlikely Heroes
While Ashutosh Sharma (66 off 31)* was the undisputed star, Axar also showered praise on 20-year-old debutant Vipraj Nigam, who played a crucial cameo of 39 off 15 balls.
- Nigam’s fearless hitting came at a crucial stage when DC were reeling at 65/5.
🗣️ “To bat in the first match in a pressure situation like this, credit goes to [Vipraj Nigam], and hopefully, they will continue to do well.”
Match Summary
🏏 LSG: 209/8 (20 overs) – Marsh 72, Pooran 75; Mukesh Kumar 3/42
🏏 DC: 212/9 (19.4 overs) – Ashutosh Sharma 66, Vipraj Nigam 39, Stubbs 34
✅ DC won by 1 wicket
Axar Patel’s Captaincy: Unpredictable but Effective?
Despite some bold and risky decisions, Axar Patel led DC to their biggest run-chase in IPL history. If this “make it a habit” statement is any indication, DC fans should be prepared for a rollercoaster ride under his leadership!