Vice-captain Axar Patel‘s (1/29 & 29) batting position is a perpetual conundrum which Delhi Capitals face on a daily basis as far as match days in Indian Premier League 2023 are concerned. Patel, who mostly bats at No. 7, has scored 211 runs at an average of 35.16 and a strike rate of 142.56 across the eight innings that he has played this season.
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Been a key contributor in the batting department irrespective of his team or format in the recent months, Patel entices suggestions of batting promotion more often than not. However, even at the cost of sounding bizarre, the southpaw continues to bat below some of DC’s out-of-form batters.
Speaking particularly of the recently concluded match against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi captain David Warner (0) explained why Patel walked out to bat at No. 7 with 58 runs needed off 26 balls to seal what would’ve been the franchise’s second-highest successful run-chase ever.
“He’s in good touch and good form but for us it’s about we got off to a good start and [with] him at the back end, we knew it would be vital with their spinners spinning into left-handers. We only had me and Axar [as left-handed batters],” Warner told Star Sports Network after falling short of a 198-run target by 9 runs.
“We had two guys [Phil Salt and Mitchell Marsh] going at that point and holding Axar back at the back end can be difficult but they’re the challenges that present us when we’re actually in the moment.”
Warner, who didn’t rule out the possibility of promoting Patel in the batting order at some point in time, was hinting at SRH spinners Akeal Hosein (16* & 1/40), Mayank Markande (2/20) and Abhishek Sharma (67 & 1/20).
David Warner Labels Mitchell Marsh as Their Best Bowler of the Match
In spite of a worrying sixth loss of the season, Capitals unearthed a major positive in the form of all-rounder Mitchell Marsh‘s form. Only the third cricketer to win a Player of the Match award in a losing cause in the ongoing 16th season of the IPL, Marsh contributed across divisions in the national capital tonight.
One of the three bowlers from the home team to complete a four-over quota, Marsh registered marvellous bowling figures of 4-1-27-4 dismissing specialist batters namely Rahul Tripathi (10), Aiden Markram (8), Harry Brook (0) and Abdul Samad (28). Marsh’s bowling efforts was a primary reason behind DC restricting Hyderabad to 109/5 in the 12th over.
“I think Mitch Marsh bowled fantastic through the middle overs and was our best bowler, but coming up nine runs short is pretty disappointing,” Warner said of Marsh’s spell.
With Warner getting out on the second ball of the innings, Marsh came in to bat at No. 3 to put together a 66-ball 112-run partnership for the second wicket alongside opener Phil Salt (59). Marsh, who hit a four and six sixes, ended up scoring 63 (39) at a strike rate of 161.53 before becoming Hosein’s first IPL wicket.
