Delhi Capitals (DC) continue to dig a massive hole for themself. Four matches into IPL 2023 and David Warner's team are still winless. On Tuesday (April 11), DC sustained another gut-wrenching defeat on the final ball of the match as the five-time champions Mumbai Indians held their nerve to register a six-wicket win at the Arun Jaitely Stadium in Delhi. Needing five runs off the last over against one of the best fast bowlers in the world Anrich Nortje, the MI batting duo of Cameron Green and Tim David got the job done for the most successful franchise in the cash-rich tournament.
While the result didn't go in Delhi's corner, there was a massive positive for the franchise. All-rounder Axar Patel performed exceedingly well, first with the bat and then with the ball. The explosive left-handed batter smashed 54 runs off 25 balls with the help of four fours and five sixes. Because of Axar's belligerent cameo, Delhi managed to put a score of 172/10 on the board.
With Axar being in sensational form with the bat, not just in this tournament but even in the international arena, calls have been gaining momentum to promote the all-rounder up the batting order. DC captain Warner also gave his views on promoting Axar to the top four in the batting line-up.
"I think from the last three games, we've some positives but we shouldn't lose wickets in clumps. Axar should bat in the top four the way he is striking the ball. From the last three games we have played, there are a lot of positives," Warner said in the post-match presentation.
Axar also bowled brilliantly on a wicket with plenty of purchase for the spinner, especially finger spinners. Even though the left-arm orthodox spinner didn't pick a wicket, he bowled in probing channels and troubled MI batters. He finished with figures of 0/20 in four overs.
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