Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium buzzed with anticipation as Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel etched his name in IPL history by playing his 100th match for the franchise against Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2026. Only two other players—Amit Mishra (103 games) and Rishabh Pant (111 games)—have played more for DC.
Axar set the tone early by winning the toss and inviting SRH to bat first. Both teams shuffled their line-ups: DC benched Aqib Nabi for Nitish Rana, boosting their batting depth, while SRH introduced Harsh Dubey and Dilsahn Madushanka in place of Prithvi Hinge and Liam Livingstone to strengthen their attack.
This season, Axar-led DC boasts a 3-2 record from five matches. His spin bowling has been economical, conceding runs at 7.52 per over while snaring five scalps. That economical 2/18 against RCB in the last game underscored his value. Batting remains a work in progress, with 29 runs off 116 strike rate signaling room for aggression.
The milestone underscores Axar’s loyalty and consistency since joining DC. As the teams battle for crucial points, his dual-threat presence could swing the momentum. SRH’s explosive top order faces a stern test from Delhi’s balanced attack, promising a thrilling contest under the lights.
