Published: Apr 28, 2025, 05:34 PM (IST)
Edited: Apr 28, 2025, 05:34 PM (IST)
Former Cricketers Anil Kumble, Wasim Jaffer and Sanjay Bangar pointed finger on Delhi Capitals skipper Axar Patel’s death over strategy, following Royal Challengers Bengaluru six-wicket victory over DC in the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League.
After RCB restricted DC at 162/8, As Delhi tried to defend their total of 162/8, the chase turned thrilling when the target narrowed to 38 runs needed from 24 balls. Mukesh Kumar bowled the 17th over, during which Krunal Pandya and Virat Kohli scored 12 crucial runs.
Dushmantha Chameera gave away nine runs in the following over but managed to take the crucial wicket of Virat, who scored 51. Just when it seemed like the Capitals were reviving their hopes of winning, the entire match abruptly concluded in an instant.
Mukesh returned to bowl again and was hit for 6, 4, 4, and 4 in the 19th over, with Tim David making life difficult for him. As they approached the second-to-last over, Axar had the choice to use Mitchell Starc’s final over along with Vipraj Nigam, who had only bowled one over so far.
I don’t know [what DC were thinking]. When you have 18-19 runs [the requirement was 17 from two overs] to defend in the last two overs, you give the 19th over to your best bowler to take it till the end. I was surprised that he gave the ball to Mukesh and not Starc. The result might have been the same, but the intent was wrong,” Kumble said on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out show
Axar likely aimed to hold back Starc, possibly due to the Australian’s performance in the final over, taking into account his impressive display against the Rajasthan Royals earlier in the tournament.
“It must be the hangover from the (game against RR). Axar must have thought that since Starc had defended nine runs in that last over, so let’s give this to Mukesh and see. It might have worked, but the thought process was wrong.” Bangar said
“Your best bowler should have bowled that over. Even if Starc had conceded, say, 12 runs, you have a leg-spinner [Nigam] for the last over if you don’t want to bowl Mukesh. Spinners sometimes create magical moments. It was a mistake on Axar’s part,” Bangar added.
“I felt he (Axar) didn’t show enough trust in Vipraj. Maybe he could have been given two-three overs too. Maybe it could have had an effect. Because at that stage [if a wicket had fallen], two overseas batters [David and Romario Shepherd] would have been there, and they might have found it tough. Jitesh Sharma was the main batter left then,” Jaffer added.
