New Delhi [India]: Delhi Capitals (DC) skipper Axar Patel reflected on his team’s narrow 14-run loss to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), highlighting key areas where DC could have seized control, including conceding too many runs early on and suffering soft dismissals during the chase.
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Axar pointed to the powerplay phase and inconsistent batting execution as turning points in what was otherwise a competitive contest at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday.
“I think how the wicket was and how we bowled in the powerplay, we gave away 15-20 runs too many,” Axar admitted. “We also lost a few wickets in a soft manner. The positive was how we restricted them after the powerplay. Coming to the batting, even though few batters failed, 2-3 of us contributed and took it so close.”
He also praised Vipraj Nigam’s late fightback, expressing that the match could have ended differently had Ashutosh Sharma stayed at the crease:
“When Vipraj was batting, there was hope. If Ashutosh were there, then they could have repeated the first game.”
Axar revealed he sustained a minor injury while fielding:
“My skin got peeled off as I dived on the practice wickets to stop the ball, but the good thing is there are 3-4 days break and hopefully I will be able to recover.”
Match Summary:
DC had the upper hand at 136/3 in 14 overs, thanks to a strong 76-run stand between Faf Du Plessis (62 off 45 balls) and Axar Patel (43 off 23 balls). However, KKR’s spin duo of Sunil Narine (3/29) and Varun Chakravarthy (2/39) turned the tide with a lethal spell in the final overs, triggering a collapse that left DC stranded at 190/9 in their 20 overs while chasing 205.
Also SEE : KKR Spin Duo Narine And Varun Seal 14-Run Win Over DC After Batting Fireworks In Delhi
Vipraj Nigam played a late cameo, smashing 38 off 19 balls, including five boundaries and two sixes, but it wasn’t enough to take DC over the line.
Points Table Update:
- Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): 7th place, 4 wins, 5 losses, 8 points
- Delhi Capitals (DC): 4th place, 6 wins, 4 losses, 12 points
- DC’s Home Record: Just 1 win in 4 matches at Arun Jaitley Stadium