Delhi Capitals (DC) on May 11 ended their losing streak in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 with a three-wicket win over Punjab Kings (PBKS) at Dharamsala’s HPCA Stadium. But, their skipper, Axar Patel, has been fined for maintaining slow over rate.
“As this was his team’s first offence of the season under Article 2.22 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct, which pertains to minimum over-rate offences, Axar Patel was fined INR 12 lakhs,” the IPL said in a statement on May 12.
All-pace attack behind long 1st innings
After Axar won the toss and opted to bowl first, it took them an hour and 55 minutes to complete the first innings. The main reason behind them falling behind the stipulated time to complete first innings was using all pace attack. Kuldeep Yadav was dropped and Axar didn’t bowl a single over as pacers got help from the track.
As a result, Lungi Ngidi had to bowl the last over with one less fielder allowed outside the 30-yard circle. Ngidi did well as he conceded just seven runs against a well-set Shreyas Iyer and a rampaging Suryansh Shedge. The South African speedster helped his side restrict PBKS's score to 210/5.
Axar comes to rescue, scores 1st fifty of season as DC win
In the run chase, Axar found his form for the first time in the season. Overcoming a string of low scores, he scored a half-century at no.5. He had to walk out to bat in the fifth over as DC lost three wickets for just 33 runs.
After Tristan Stubbs was dismissed run out, Axar shared a crucial partnership with David Miller. The two left-handed batters put on a 64-run stand for the fifth wicket to keep DC in the run chase. Eventually, Axar was dismissed by Marcus Stoinis in the 14th over. But, Miller’s fifty and cameos from Ashutosh Sharma, Madhav Tiwari and Auqib Nabi helped them get over the line with three wickets in hand and an over to spare.
This was DC's fifth win of the season. They climbed to the seventh place on the points table and find themselves alive in the playoffs race even if their chances of making it to last four remain slim.