Former Indian Test opener hailed Axar Patel’s leadership after Delhi Capitals claimed an eight-wicket win against Lucknow Super Giants at Lucknow in the ongoing IPL 2025 on Tuesday. DC restricted LSG to a sub-par total of 159 runs after Patel decided to bowl first.
LSG openers Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh, played decent knocks, but the middle order could not get going. Meanwhile, in-form Nicholas Pooran got off to a promising start as he smashed the first two balls he faced to boundaries.
However, Patel decided to bring on his pack leader, Mitchell Starc into the attack, and the Australian was able to get the big wicket of the West Indian batter, who chopped the ball back onto his stumps.
Furthermore, Axar Patel also opened the bowling innings with Mitchell Starc and the DC captain conceded only 29 runs in his quota of four overs.
“Axar Patel, what a captain. He came with great planning. It wouldn’t have been him alone. Hemang Badani’s brain would have also been involved. They said they would start with left-arm spin. Mitchell Starc would start from one end for sure, but Axar could bowl four overs from the other end,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“When Pooran came, Mitchell Starc from one end and Kuldeep Yadav from the other end. Let’s go hard at him because he is the game-changer. So they stopped that game-changer. Kuldeep and Starc’s numbers against Pooran have been very good. The match-ups couldn’t have been better,” he added.
Chopra hailed Axar Patel for the right bowling changes at the right time.
“I was thinking that they were getting hit and no wickets had fallen, and they should get them to bowl. However, he said he would wait for the right moment. Mitchell Starc came and dismissed Pooran. Of course, it wasn’t a good day for Kuldeep Yadav. He didn’t get wickets, but he (Axar) got what he wanted, and it’s not the first time. Axar Patel has managed this team very well many times,” Chopra observed.
On the other hand, the renowned commentator lauded Abishek Porel, who scored 51 runs off 36 balls in the run chase of 160.
“When it was the turn to bat, Jake Fraser-McGurk wasn’t doing well, and Faf (Du Plessis) isn’t fit, so they left both out. They said they would play with Indians and manage. Firstly, Porel played well. He is actually a very, very decent player. All of us know that,” he said in the same video.
Meanwhile, KL Rahul continued his rich form as he scored an unbeaten knock of 57 runs to help his team get over the line.
“Karun Nair got a good start, and then how well is KL Rahul batting. He is batting differently. It seems like he is a man on a mission. He is going everywhere, went to Bengaluru, then came here, and is saying that he is there. Axar Patel’s contribution has been extremely impressive and incredible because he also scored runs,” Chopra observed.
Delhi Capitals will next take on the Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, on Sunday.
