DC vs SRH: “Axar Patel Came in When The Game Had Already Been Lost”- Michael Vaughan on DC Holding Back Axar Patel

DC vs SRH: Delhi Capitals’ all-rounder Axar Patel has been in sublime form. However, he hasn’t got enough opportunities to showcase his talent with the bat in IPL 2023. Former England skipper Michael Vaughan criticized Delhi Capitals’ management for holding back Axar Patel in their run chase in the DC vs SRH game on April 29.

David Warner is the only left-handed batsman in DC’s top order. However, SRH dismissed him right in the first over. Vaughan reckons that DC should’ve sent Axar Patel to bat up the order. Moreover, being a left-handed batter he would have easily tackled two left-arm spinners and a leg spinner in Sunrisers Hyderabad’s bowling lineup.

“Axar Patel is a left-hander and there is a lack of left-handers in that middle order. You’ve got two left-arm spinners and a leg spinner, which would have been spinning into the left-hander, and yet he comes out really when the game had already been lost. Tactically and strategically, I don’t see Delhi operating cleverly this year,” Michael Vaughan said on Cricbuzz.

DC vs SRH: “DC’s poor performance in the finish last year has carried on in IPL 2023” – Michael Vaughan

“They were poor in the last seven games. It’s not just this year, it’s the end of last year. I think that is a concern for Delhi because their poor performance in the finish last year has carried on into this year,” the former England skipper explained about DC’s campaign in IPL 2023.

It’s worth noting that Axar Patel has scored plenty of runs for the Men in Blue in the last year. He’s also the second-highest run-getter for Delhi Capitals after skipper David Warner. Furthermore, he has played some incredible knocks already in the tournament.

Axar Patel came in to bat after 15.4 overs. Till then the spin trio of Mayank Markande, Abhishek Sharma, and Akeal Hosein had made a significant impact on the DC vs SRH game. The three spinner shared 4 wickets among themselves which included the crucial wickets of Marsh and Salt.

Axar Patel did manage to score a quick-fire 29 off just 14 deliveries. It included a four and a couple of sixes. However, he couldn’t allow his team to chase down the target as DC eventually fell short by 9 runs.