Axar Patel subtly trolls RR management for sending Riyan Parag over Yashasvi Jaiswal in the Super Over

Axar Patel subtly questioned RR's Super Over strategy of sending Riyan Parag before Yashasvi Jaiswal following Delhi Capitals' victory.

Axar Patel subtly trolls RR management for sending Riyan Parag over Yashasvi Jaiswal in the Super Over

DC captain questioned RR's Super Over strategy of sending Riyan Parag to bat instead of Yashasvi Jaiswal. (via Instagram)

Delhi Capitals skipper Axar Patel took a subtle dig at the Rajasthan Royals’ management for sending Riyan Parag over Yashasvi Jaiswal in the Super Over, in a thrilling IPL encounter. Patel’s comments came after his team secured a win against RR.

The match between the two fierce IPL rivals unfolded at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, with DC hoping to make it to the top of the standings. The home side had already seen their four-match winning run end, after they suffered a disappointing 12-run defeat to Mumbai Indians, owing to a series of erratic run-outs. They were up against an RR side, who had won just two matches since the start of the season. 

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Batting first, Delhi Capitals managed to pose a competitive first innings total of 188 runs. Abishek Porel, KL Rahul, Tristan Stubbs and Axar Patel scored crucial knocks for the home side, while Jofra Archer took two wickets for the visitors. Chasing the target, RR were guided by Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Rana’s fifties, as the two batters carried the team close to a much-needed victory.

The match was down to the final overs, with nine runs needed off the last over. Shimron Hetmyer and Dhruv Jurel were on strike, while Mitchell Starc took the responsibility to bowl the penultimate over. The 35-year-old left-arm pacer showed off his brilliance, conceding only eight runs in the final over. A run-out in the last ball of his over pushed the match to a Super Over, the first one since the 2022 season. 

While Starc was DC’s pick to bowl the Super Over, RR surprisingly opted to send Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer to bat. The decision to send Parag, who had scored just eight runs in the match, was arguable. RR managed to score just 11 runs in the Super Over, while losing both the wickets to run-outs. DC, in response, chased the 12-run target, as Tristan Stubbs hit a six off the fourth ball to finish off the match.

Following the defeat, the RR head coach Rahul Dravid was criticized for overlooking Jaiswal and Rana in the Super Over, despite the two being the standout players of the match. It even left DC captain Axar Patel surprised, as he later revealed that his team had anticipated Jaiswal to walk out first, instead of Parag. However, he acknowledged the fact that the final result ended in favor of his side.

[Shimron] Hetmyer wasn’t able to connect in the match either…So I felt [Yashasvi] Jaiswal and Riyan [Parag] would come out. But it worked out well for us, whoever they sent out.

Axar Patel on RR’s Super Over strategy (H/T India Today)

Meanwhile, Riyan Parag, despite having scored a boundary in the Super Over, faced backlash for the team’s failures and was even accused of ‘nepotism’. It adds to the debate surrounding the 23-year-old’s place in the RR lineup, as well as his dismal form in the IPL this season. 

DC captain Axar Patel hopes Faf du Plessis to be fit for the next game against Gujarat Titans

Delhi Capitals skipper Axar Patel expressed hope that vice-captain Faf du Plessis would be fit to play their next match against Gujarat Titans. The 40-year-old South African batter picked up an injury during DC’s match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, last week. 

Axar Patel on Faf du Plessis injury
Axar Patel expressed hope for DC vice-captain Faf du Plessis to make a return from injury. (via My Khel)

While Axar Patel did not confirm the nature of du Plessis’ injury, he added that the opener is steadily recovering from it, while awaiting updates from the team physio. Interestingly, it was off Patel’s bowling against RCB, that du Plessis injured himself. The 40-year-old sprinted from extra cover to take Rajat Patidar’s catch, but failed to do so, injuring himself in the process.

Nonetheless, the team will be hoping to get du Plessis back into the starting XI, following opener Jake Fraser-McGurk’s struggles with the bat. The Australian, who has played six matches so far, has managed to score 55 runs at a strike rate of 105.67.