Delhi – A mighty 264 for 2 ought to have been enough, even on the flattest Arun Jaitley pitch, yet Delhi Capitals somehow contrived to lose by six wickets with seven balls untouched. Punjab Kings’ reply – 271 for 4, the highest successful chase in IPL history – left DC captain Axar Patel shaking his head.
“We are repeating the same mistakes,” he admitted a touch wearily. “On such a wicket if you are not supporting the bowler and giving so many chances, then I think you deserve to lose.”
Six missed catches backed up his point. Karun Nair shelled Shreyas Iyer on 29 and again on 35; the Kings skipper responded with an unbeaten 71 from 36. Prabhsimran Singh was reprieved twice as well, while Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly each benefited from a let-off. Throw in a wayward new-ball spell – Punjab thundered to 116 without loss in the powerplay, the second-highest six-over surge the league has witnessed – and it was hardly a mystery where the match slipped.
“Overall the way our fast bowlers bowled in the powerplay and our bowling and the fielding and opportunities we missed, I think they are the main reasons [we lost],” Axar continued. He refused, though, to blame the surface. “On this kind of wicket, 267 [264] was a very good score.”
The innings had been shaped by a majestic 152* from KL Rahul, the opener mixing deft touch with uncomplicated brutality. Former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta, watching on commentary duty, felt we might look back on the innings as a turning point. “Spatial awareness was unbelievable,” he said, suggesting Rahul’s weight transfer against both pace and spin showed a batter fully in control.
Despite the fireworks, Delhi’s season now reads three wins and four defeats, good enough only for sixth place. Axar knows the margins are thin but the pattern, he concedes, is worrying. “I said at the toss as well that if we managed to grab the crucial moments, the earlier games could have gone our way and we can win in future as well. But the main thing is that you need to grab the moment. We will go back and see what areas we can improve upon.”
Next up for DC is a short turnaround in Hyderabad. Catching practice, one suspects, will feature prominently.
