Royal Challengers Bengaluru handed Delhi Capitals a humiliating 75-all-out thrashing, but skipper Axar Patel waved it off as misfortune. In a candid presser, he urged the team – and supporters – to shake it off and charge forward.
Axar pinpointed psychological baggage from the Punjab Kings game. ‘Couldn’t defend 264 last time; that doubt crept in. Batters failed to build partnerships, wickets tumbling rapidly. Pure bad luck.’
Early swing troubled RCB, but a four off Chamira killed it. ‘Batting first for 60-70 demoralizes bowlers subconsciously,’ he noted. ‘Jamieson swung it first over, but that boundary flipped the game. No blame on our attack.’
Young Sahel Parikh’s debut ended abruptly, bowled by Bhuvneshwar. Axar defended the choice: ‘Left-right opening combo was key. His hard work in practice deserved a shot. Early exit, but we see long-term promise in him for DC.’ He stepped in for Pathum Nissanka.
Preparation is non-negotiable, Axar insisted. ‘Know your strengths, prep accordingly – IPL or international. Uncapped lads must nail basics; camps keep them match-ready across cities.’
No drastic squad overhaul planned. ‘First full meltdown in eight outings. Mental resilience trumps changes. Stick to our system for remaining games.’
Axar connected with fans: ‘Your frustration mirrors ours after such toil. Don’t abandon us in defeat. Back the team always.’ Leading by example, he rejected finger-pointing, rallying everyone for a collective push in the final stretch.
