IPL 2023: Wickets were more important – Axar Patel after all-round performance against SRH

Delhi Capitals’ vice-captain Axar Patel rated his bowling performance higher than his batting show after they defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by seven runs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad on Monday.

Patel returned with match-winning figures of 2-21 in his quota of four overs as he accounted for a well-settled Mayank Agarwal and skipper Aiden Markram when SRH were chasing 145 runs.

The pitch was slow and Patel as well as Kuldeep Yadav were able to put the home team on the back foot.

Meanwhile, earlier in the match, Delhi Capitals found themselves reeling at 62-5 after they lost three wickets in the eighth over, which was bowled by Washington Sundar. From there, Manish Pandey and Axar Patel were able to steady the ship as they added 69 runs for the sixth wicket. Patel scored a run-a-ball 34 to help his team post a fighting total of 144 on the board.

Thus, Patel was awarded Player of the Match for his all-round performance against the Orange Army.

Axar Patel said in the post-match presentation, “(What gave him more joy, his batting or bowling returns?) 2/21 since I scored 34 in 34 so the two wickets were more important. I ordered for coffee and I left the glass like that, when three wickets fell in one over. Pandey and I discussed we need to take it as deep as possible. (On the surface) It was slow, the ball was coming off slowly. I felt that me and Kuldeep can tie up the batters on this surface, so it was enjoyable. (Whose wicket did he enjoy more, Mayank’s or Markram’s?) I keep getting wickets in the form of knocking over batters but getting a wicket off the slower one (Mayank’s wicket) was more enjoyable.”

On the other hand, Anrich Nortje was also right on the money as he scalped two wickets and conceded 33 runs in his quota of four overs. The South African accounted for Harry Brook and his compatriot Heinrich Klaasen.

He said after the win, “Really happy to get the win, still not the ideal performance, a few runs short but the bowlers did really well. They were saying there’s some inconsistency on the good lengths, that was the message. Trying to keep it as simple as possible, trying to focus on the target and go. (Plan against Klaasen) I’m not going to lie, the plan wasn’t to ball half-volleys but you get a sense of where the batter wants to hit. (On Mukesh) He was very clear with the plans and he focused. He took his time and executed it well, that was really inspiring.”

The Capitals will once again take on Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on Saturday.