Bad luck, you have to forget this day and move on: Axar on DC’s nightmarish outing against RCB

Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel described his team’s shocking collapse for 75 against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru as a mix of “bad luck” and lingering hesitation from their previous defeat, where they failed to defend a massive 264.

Playing at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi lost six wickets inside the first four overs and never recovered, eventually handing RCB a dominant nine-wicket win on Monday. The top order, comprising experienced internationals and young players, struggled to handle the swing and bounce generated by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood.

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Axar admitted that the previous game, where Delhi conceded 264/2 against Punjab Kings, may have had a mental impact on the team.

“I think because of what happened in the last game, I felt that even after doing so much as a team, you can win nine out of ten times. But after that it felt like we could not defend back-to-back – so I feel there was some hesitation because of that. Other than that, I think it was bad luck.

“No batter could really settle down. It was not like someone got set. We lost wickets in one or two balls. I think we lost six wickets in 15–16 balls. I think it was bad luck, you have to forget this day and move on,” Axar said.

In that previous match, KL Rahul had scored an unbeaten 152 and Nitish Rana made 91, but both were dismissed cheaply in this game as Hazlewood made full use of favourable conditions. Axar also explained how the pitch conditions changed quickly.

“If you look at the first over, there was swing. Later, once the second ball from Chameera got hit for a boundary, the swing stopped and it becomes a different game. When you score 60–70 runs in the first innings, bowlers come in with a bit of low morale and that is in the back of their mind.

“Even if you motivate yourself, somewhere you feel it is a really low score. In the first over, there was swing for Kyle (Jamieson), but it changed after that one boundary. I do not think our bowlers did anything wrong. The way we batted, I would call it bad luck. Because of that, we cannot blame the bowlers,” he added.

He also backed the decision to hand a debut to youngster Sahil Parekh, who was dismissed early.
“The reason was to have a left-right combination at the top because we had two right-handers opening. We wanted to use that option in the back of our mind. Also, the way he has been practicing, the hard work he has been putting in, and how he performed in nets and practice matches, we felt he deserved a chance.

“So seeing all those factors, we gave a chance to the new boy. It was his first match and he got out early on the second ball, so I cannot judge. But the way he has been batting, we believe he has potential to do something special and he can do well for Delhi in the long run,” he added.

Axar stressed that preparation ultimately depends on individuals, even though the team provides support systems and facilities. “I think preparation is personal. As a team, you can say that. But, as a player, you also have a responsibility that what should be your preparation if you are going to play IPL or international cricket. If you talk about me, then my personal preparation is that, if I go to play cricket – international, IPL or domestic – I do undertake one, as you yourself know your strengths and weaknesses.

“I don’t think they only practice range hitting. They also practice basics. At the same time, it’s a personal choice whether someone wants to do drills or not. I think, it’s personal preparation. But, yes, I feel that uncapped players should focus on basics. If your basics are strong, then you do range hitting on your own,” he elaborated.

Despite the heavy loss, Axar ruled out making major changes to the team, even with Mitchell Starc set to return. “If you look at the last eight matches, it’s the first time that we’ve played bad cricket or collapsed. I don’t think you’ll get results if you make a lot of changes. It’s important to have a good mindset and be mentally prepared.

“There won’t be a lot of changes in the team, but yes, it’s important to be mentally stable and move forward together.”

He acknowledged the pressure going forward but emphasised sticking to the process. “See, it is not like we will play the remaining matches without pressure. In the last eight-nine matches we played, there was pressure. You cannot say there will be pressure or not. But at the same time, you have to do what you can and follow your process.

“You have to move on and you have to come every day with focus and preparation… I feel that the next six matches we have to follow our preparation and process and anything can change anytime,” he said.

Axar also urged fans to continue backing the team. “See, if the fans are disheartened, even the players are just as disheartened… Whether we win or lose, support should remain the same… you can give yourself excuses or, as a team, you can be with the team and fight ahead in the remaining six games and we will face result together without worrying about it,” he concluded.