Axar Patel a paper captain? DC skipper drops 'KL Rahul makes my job easy' statement

The Axar Patel-led Delhi Capitals (DC) locked horns with the Rajat Patidar-led Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the 24th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 on Thursday, April 10.

Delhi Capitals won the Indian Premier League 2025 match against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 6 wickets and 13 balls remaining at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Also Read: IPL Points Table, Orange Cap, Purple Cap After RCB vs DC Match 24 - IPL 2025

The way the team is playing, everyone is confident - Axar Patel

Opting to bowl first in the match, the DC were taken to cleaners by the RCB batters but they bounced back strongly and restricted them to a below-par total of 163/7. Chasing the target, they lost quick wickets in the powerplay but KL Rahul stood strong in the middle and played an exceptional knock of 93* runs to steer his team to a win. He stated:

During the post-match presentation ceremony, DC captain Axar Patel was delighted to win four consecutive matches and said that the players are high in confidence in the Delhi Capitals camp. He said:

"The way the team is playing, everyone is confident and feels good to win four out of four. They like facing pacers, so I felt using spin early was a good option."

Axar Patel further made an admission that he made a massive blunder by bowling the 19th over in which he was slammed for 17 runs. He stated:

"The ball was stopping and there was some bounce as well, so I felt it was hard to hit spinners in the powerplay. The 19th over by me was perhaps a mistake tactically. But it's okay since we have won."

My job becomes easy with someone like Rahul in the order - Axar Patel

Axar Patel was mighty impressed with the way Vipraj Nigam and Kuldeep Yadav bowled in the match and he lauded the duo. He said:

"The way they are bowling - Kuldeep has been doing it for years, but a special word for Vipraj. The way he bowled, even in the 18th over, he was confident."

While talking about KL Rahul, Axar Patel said that the presence of the star batsman in the line-up makes his job easier. He said:

"My job becomes easy with someone like Rahul in the order. I've also been used as a floater before, so I know it's not easy. To have someone like him is great. He played a mature innings and is continuing the form from the Champions Trophy."

How did DC perform in the previous IPL match against RCB?

Delhi Capitals faced a crushing 47-run defeat at the hands of Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their previous clash at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Bowling first, DC had their moments but failed to stop RCB for a low score. After removing Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli early, DC allowed RCB to get back into the game with Will Jacks and Rajat Patidar stitching up an 88-run partnership

Meanwhile, Rasikh Salam and Khaleel Ahmed bowled well, finishing with two wickets each. Kuldeep Yadav, however, endured a tough outing, conceding 52 runs with one wicket under his belt in four overs, while Ishant Sharma and Mukesh Kumar also got one wicket each, and RCB were restricted to 187/9.

With the bat, DC’s innings just couldn't get going as they lost 4 wickets inside 4 overs, including the big dismissal of David Warner.

All-rounder Axar Patel emerged as the lone warrior for Delhi, scoring 57 off 39 with five fours and three sixes. He kept the chase alive momentarily, but lacked support from the other end and DC were eventually bowled out for 140 in 19.1 overs.