The Delhi Capitals' recent loss to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 has sparked criticism from former India stars regarding captain Axar Patel's death-over tactics. The match, held at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, saw RCB chase down a target of 163 with six wickets in hand and nine balls to spare, leading to scrutiny of Patel's decision-making in the crucial final overs.
The primary point of contention revolves around Patel's choice to hand the 19th over to Mukesh Kumar instead of Mitchell Starc. With RCB needing 17 runs from the last two overs, many expected Starc, Delhi's premier bowler, to take responsibility. However, Patel's decision to go with Kumar backfired as Tim David smashed him for a six and three boundaries, effectively sealing the game for RCB.
Former India spinner Anil Kumble expressed his surprise at the decision, stating, "When you have 17 runs to defend in the last two overs, you give the 19th over to your best bowler to take it till the end. I was surprised that he gave the ball to Mukesh and not Starc. The result might have been the same, but the intent was wrong." Kumble's sentiment was echoed by Sanjay Bangar, former India batting coach, who suggested that Patel might have been influenced by Starc's successful defense of nine runs in the final over against Rajasthan Royals in a previous match. Bangar argued that the situation against RCB demanded a different approach, saying, "It must be the hangover from the game against RR... Your best bowler should have bowled that over."
Wasim Jaffer, another former Indian cricketer, raised concerns about Patel's lack of trust in Vipraj Nigam, a relatively inexperienced bowler. Jaffer felt that Nigam could have been given more opportunities to bowl, potentially disrupting RCB's momentum, especially with two overseas batters at the crease later in the innings.
Patel's rationale behind his choices remains a subject of speculation. Some analysts believe he wanted to keep Starc for the final over, banking on his experience to handle the pressure. Others suggest that Patel might have been trying to exploit a perceived weakness in David's game against Kumar's bowling style. Regardless of the reasoning, the outcome was not in Delhi's favor.
Following the match, Patel acknowledged that the team was "10-15 runs short" and lamented the dropped catches that cost them dearly. He also pointed out that the dew made batting easier in the second innings. However, he did not directly address the criticism surrounding his bowling changes.
The Delhi Capitals' performance in the death overs has been a recurring issue this season. Despite having a relatively strong bowling attack, they have struggled to close out games, often conceding crucial runs in the final stages. This loss against RCB has further amplified these concerns, putting pressure on Patel and the team management to find solutions.
While Patel has generally been praised for his captaincy, this tactical misstep has raised questions about his decision-making under pressure. As Delhi Capitals aim for a playoff spot, they need to address their death-over woes and ensure that their captain makes the right calls in crunch situations. The upcoming matches will be a test of Patel's leadership and the team's ability to bounce back from this setback.
