new delhi, April 2
Axar Patel credited a disciplined bowling performance for Delhi Capitals’ six-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants, while opposing skipper Rishabh Pant said that conceding extra runs at crucial moments proved costly for his side.
Reflecting on the victory, Axar said the team’s plans with the new ball worked effectively as conditions offered early movement. He noted that although the match ended comfortably, there was a phase in the middle where the contest tightened. According to him, the bowlers executed their strategies well by exploiting the swing and seam available early in the innings, which helped restrict the opposition to a manageable total.
Delhi’s bowling unit maintained consistent pressure throughout the innings. Mukesh Kumar provided an early breakthrough with a controlled spell, setting the tone for the rest of the attack. Axar himself made an impact by dismissing Aiden Markram with a well-disguised arm-ball soon after being hit for a six, demonstrating composure under pressure.
The wickets continued to fall as T. Natarajan removed Ayush Badoni, while Lungi Ngidi deceived Nicholas Pooran with a slower delivery. In the middle overs, Kuldeep Yadav further dented Lucknow’s progress by taking key wickets, including that of Mitchell Marsh, ensuring the batting side never gained full momentum.
Chasing a modest target, Delhi Capitals faced early setbacks but managed to stabilise the innings through a crucial partnership. Axar revealed that during the strategic time-out, the message was to focus on building one substantial stand rather than rushing the chase. This approach paid off as Impact Player Sameer Rizvi and Tristan Stubbs combined effectively.
Rizvi, in particular, played a decisive role with a composed innings under pressure. After taking time to settle against the seamers, he accelerated against spin and brought up his half-century off 37 deliveries. Along with Stubbs, he stitched together an unbeaten 119-run partnership that guided Delhi to victory and shifted the momentum firmly in their favour.
On the other hand, Pant acknowledged that Lucknow Super Giants fell short due to lapses in both batting and bowling. He said that a total in the range of 140 often forces bowlers to take extra risks, which can lead to conceding additional runs. While the team did pick up early wickets, he felt that a few more breakthroughs during the powerplay could have put the opposition under greater pressure.
Lucknow’s bowlers had made a promising start, with Mohammed Shami dismissing KL Rahul for a duck on the very first ball. Prince Yadav also contributed with key wickets, including those of Pathum Nissanka and Axar Patel, keeping the contest competitive in the early stages.
However, Pant admitted that the team could not capitalise on the assistance provided by the pitch. He pointed out that the lack of partnerships in the batting innings proved to be a major setback, leaving the bowlers with too little to defend. Reflecting on his own dismissal, Pant said that dwelling on mistakes only adds pressure, and the focus should remain on moving forward. Despite the defeat, the Lucknow captain remained optimistic about the team’s approach. He indicated that decisions regarding the batting order are always situational but hinted that he is likely to continue featuring in the top order in upcoming matches.
