Axar Patel Calls DC’s Loss ‘Bad Luck’ After Collapse

Delhi Capitals skipper Axar Patel said their heavy loss to defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) was “bad luck.” He explained that hesitation, lack of partnerships, and quick wickets caused the team’s collapse during the match.

Speaking after the game, Axar admitted the team might have been mentally affected after their previous outing, where they struggled despite a strong total. He felt some hesitation carried over from that match, leading to their inability to defend another target back-to-back.

Reflecting on the batting performance, Axar noted that no batter was able to settle at the crease. Wickets fell quickly, with six losses occurring in just 15-16 balls. He believed this was partly due to bad luck and urged the team to move forward.

Axar emphasized that pressure is constant in professional cricket and cannot be avoided. He stressed focusing on controllable aspects and following the game plan daily. As captain, he highlighted the importance of supporting both players and staff while maintaining belief in the team.

He also suggested that drastic changes to the squad aren’t necessary, as this might have been an isolated bad performance. Instead, staying mentally strong and united as a team is key.

In the match, RCB’s bowlers, including Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, performed exceptionally well, reducing DC to 75 in just 16.3 overs. Abishek Porel and David Miller provided some resistance but weren’t enough. RCB’s batters then chased down the target quickly, led by strong performances from Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, and Virat Kohli.

With this win, RCB moved to second place with 12 points. DC remains seventh with three wins out of eight matches.