4 min learnCould 12, 2026 12:37 PM IST
Delhi Capitals preserve themselves alive within the playoff race of IPL 2026 with a three-wicket win over Punjab Kings at Dharamshala on Monday evening. The workforce presently has ten factors after 12 video games, and if the Axar Patel-led workforce can win their remaining matches, they will nonetheless qualify for the play-offs if different permutations and mixtures go their method. Skipper Axar Patel sounded hopeful that the workforce can do nicely within the remaining matches and in addition maintain it collectively in essential moments.
“I’ve been saying it for the reason that final time as nicely: if we will maintain essential moments in matches, we will win. The workforce is superb, and we’ve got been enjoying good cricket too. We misplaced one or two matches as a result of we gave away essential moments, and that’s why we’re right here. However such issues occur in a protracted match. Not all days are equal. I’m very pleased with the best way the workforce performed and hope that we are going to do nicely within the remaining matches,” Patel mentioned within the post-match presentation.
With Delhi Capitals successful the toss and deciding to bowl first, Punjab Kings raced to a breezy begin as their openers Priyanshu Arya and Prabhsimran Singh amassed 51 runs within the first three overs. Delhi Capitals made a comeback within the subsequent seven overs, making a gift of solely 56 runs. With Punjab Kings finally ending at 210 for five, the Axar Patel-led aspect needed to chase the goal on a pitch providing help to the pacers. After being 72 for 4 in 7.2 overs, Delhi Capitals’ innings was given a push by a 64-run fifth-wicket partnership between Patel and David Miller, earlier than some onerous hitting by Miller, Ashutosh Sharma and Madhav Tiwari within the dying overs steered the workforce dwelling with one over to spare. Patel praised his workforce’s bowlers in addition to kids like Ashutosh Sharma and Madhav Tiwari for taking part in their half within the win.
“The way in which we fought again to finish the powerplay with 72 runs after making a gift of 51 runs within the first three overs was the defining second of the match. The way in which Mukesh Kumar and Madhav Tiwari bowled within the center overs, other than the partnership between myself and David Miller, set the match for gamers like Ashutosh Sharma and Madhav Tiwari to complete it. Given the type of wicket it was, the place the ball swung and minimize, it was essential to utilise the situations. The bowlers didn’t bowl the best size within the first two or three overs, however the best way Madhav and Aquib Nabi swung the ball was essential for us in making the comeback. The pitch was providing help to the pacers, and I didn’t really feel the necessity to bowl spinners. I believed I’ve 5 quick bowlers, so let me use them,” added Patel.
Patel performed a 30-ball knock of 56 runs, his highest rating on this IPL. When requested about his knock and the best way he batted on Monday, the two-time T20 World Cup winner shared how he had been following his course of in earlier matches and it clicked on Monday.
“It was the identical in earlier matches as nicely. As we speak it clicked. Everybody faces this sort of section, however doing what it’s a must to do constantly is essential. As we speak I bought the possibility. Typically luck doesn’t favour you, however immediately luck modified with the dropped catch. I used to be simply following my course of and fortunately bought the runs too,” mentioned Patel.