Delhi Capitals (DC) faced yet another defeat in the Indian Premier League (2023) after falling nine runs short against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday (April 29). Notably, this was the sixth loss for the Delhi-based team in eight matches, and they currently sit at the last position of the league’s points table.
Batting second in the contest, Delhi had to chase 197 runs to win against SRH. Although DC started well, with Phil Salt (59) and Mitchell Marsh (63) smashing brilliant fifties, their middle order failed to finish things off, and they eventually fell nine runs short in the contest. What surprised the fans and experts most was in form Axar Patel‘s batting position in the DC line-up.
Axar was sent to bat at no. 7 by Delhi management against SRH, and he scored quickfire 29 runs off 14 deliveries at a strike rate of over 200. But he ran out of balls in the end. It is noteworthy that this was not the first time that DC sent Axar to bat this lower down the order, as they did the same in the previous games as well.
Following the match, a few ex-cricketers and cricket enthusiasts fumed over DC head coach Ricky Ponting and Director of Cricket Sourav Ganguly for their decision to hold back Axar and assign him a lower batting position.
Aussie legend Tom Moody took to Twitter to call out the tactical blunder and wrote: “Hard to understand why Axar Patel finds himself so far down the order, one inform batter in #DelhiCapitals XI?? #DCvSRH”
Hard to understand why Axar Patel finds himself so far down the order, one inform batter in #DelhiCapitals XI??#DCvSRH
— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) April 29, 2023
On the other hand, many netizens demanded the sacking of Ganguly and Ponting after the match.
Here’s how fans reacted:
How can Delhi Capitals have Ricky Ponting and Saurav Ganguly, two of the best captains ever in their support staff but still don’t have the brains to send Axar Patel up in the batting order?
I don’t even know what went through their brain.
— Murtaza (@murtazaknows) April 29, 2023
Delhi most disappointing last night. At 112-1 in 12th over chasing 197, match was in the bag. To lose from that position reflects how poor they were. Mediocre top order batting,barring Warner, main problem, but also strange tactics. Ridiculous to bat in-form Axar Patel at no.7!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 30, 2023
Time to sack Ricky Ponting👍 pic.twitter.com/vK8w3YJ5Xv
— Laksh Sharma (@im_laksh_18) April 29, 2023
#DCvSRH DC must hav promoted Axar Patel at jo 5 ahead of Priyan Garg nd Sarfaraz Khan nd used his purple patch with the bat.Brainless thinking by Ponting,Ganguly to keep him at no 7. Ran out of balls. Decision making is the reason why DC, PBKS, RCB Haven’t won an @IPL trophy yet
— MOHD FUZAIL AHMAD (@mohdfuzailahmad) April 29, 2023
The lack of common sense at DC is astounding. Came through in the first match when Sarfaraz kept wickets.
Still clueless about Axar’s batting ability.
It’s a franchise protecting its jobs. Shaw’a media lashing by Ponting, a new low #DCvsSRH
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) April 29, 2023
shocking to see such decisions from delhi capitals when you have big names like ponting, ganguly and watson.
— mizan (@chorbazaariii) April 29, 2023
#DCvSRH
Can’t imagine with Ganguly and Ricky Ponting sitting in the dugout, axar the best batman of DC gets only 14 balls score run at a strike rate of over 200 and still loses the match by 9 runs for not getting sufficient deliveries.Pathetic in plain and simple English.
— Sushabhan biswas (@nonphysics) April 29, 2023