IPL 2025: Axar Patel hails Mitchell Starc after win against Rajasthan Royals

Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel showered praise on Mitchell Starc after they defeated Rajasthan Royals in a thrilling Super Over clash at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi in the ongoing IPL 2025 on Wednesday. In the final of the second innings, Starc defended nine runs in the final over as he conceded eight runs to take the game into the Super Over.

Starc was able to nail all his yorkers against Shimron Hetmyer and Dhruv Jurel and didn’t give any opportunity to both the batters to get under the ball.

Similarly, in the Super Over, Starc had clear tactics of bowling the yorkers and conceded 11 runs despite bowling a no-ball. The Australian veteran fast bowler was brilliant in his execution and got the tail back into the batters, making the most of his experience.

Subsequently, KL Rahul and Tristan Stubbs were able to get the job done in the Super Over, scoring a boundary and a six, respectively, while chasing 12 for the win.

Axar Patel said in the post-match presentation, “I was thinking if Mitch can execute, we will be in this. He bowled almost 12 yorkers. That’s why he is such an Australian legend. I guess he missed only one ball as far as execution was concerned. The field was changed but he kept at it. It was vital to lose that one game. Helps us.”

Patel noted that the track wasn’t easy for the new batter to hit the ground running.

The DC captain concluded, “It wasn’t easy for the new batter. The set batter was finding it better. When the runs flow, the panic button sets in. I told myself and the troops after the strategic time-out in the bowling innings that the real game starts now. Won’t be easy in the middle overs. It won’t be easy to hit fours and sixes.”

Delhi Capitals will next take on Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on Saturday.