Delhi Capitals skipper Axar Patel couldn’t hide his delight after his side returned to winning form in the 2026 Indian Premier League on Friday night. Chasing a daunting total of 226, the Capitals powered their way to victory and put behind them a run of tough outings that saw them suffer humiliating defeats against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad in each of their prior three matches.
Adding extra spark to the occasion was Mitchell Starc, who made his first appearance for Delhi this season after working his way back from shoulder and elbow injuries. In what turned out to be a statement start, Starc struck Yashasvi Jaiswal with his very first over, immediately forcing Rajasthan Royals onto the back foot. The left-arm pace continued to bite later in the innings as well—during the 17th over, Starc removed Ravindra Jadeja and Riyan Parag in quick succession. By the end of his spell, he had finished with figures of 3/40, a performance that set the tone for the Capitals’ chase of the target to follow.
Speaking about Starc’s impact, Axar praised him without reservation. “The way he bowled today is exactly why he’s a legend of the game. Coming back after three months away and producing a performance like this on a wicket like this— it says everything about how big a player he is. I’m very happy Starc is back and showing everyone why he’s such a great bowler,” the captain said.
While Starc’s early strikes put Rajasthan under pressure, Delhi’s momentum didn’t stop there. Kyle Jamieson, also delivering when it mattered, sent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi back after landing a high-quality yorker. On a wicket that offered little drama, removing two of Rajasthan’s more dangerous batters early had a clear influence on where the match was heading.
Even so, Rajasthan still found a way to reach 225, largely propelled by captain Parag, who struck a commanding 90. That meant Delhi’s task was far from simple, and they needed more than just hope to get over the line. The Capitals found their rhythm through Pathum Nissanka, who made 62 off 33 balls, and Player of the Match KL Rahul, who contributed 75 off 40 deliveries. With Nitish Rana, Tristan Stubbs and Ashutosh Sharma adding useful bursts in the middle, Delhi managed to steer the chase home in 19.1 overs, winning with seven wickets in hand.
Axar felt the result reflected the team’s execution across both departments and insisted the turnaround was built on day-to-day consistency. “Even after the last match, when I was giving interviews, I was saying the same thing—that you have to come every day and keep doing the same things. You can always turn things around. So yes, I’m very happy with how the boys played today,” he said.
He added that the side stuck closely to its plan. “The way they batted and bowled, I think both departments were excellent, and I’m very happy. The plan was executed exactly the way we wanted, and because of that, we got the results too.”
For Axar, the biggest satisfaction came from dismantling the opponent’s key threats. “As a captain, you can’t be happier than that. If you can get the wickets of the opposition’s main batters—the ones who can change the game in the powerplay—then at that moment there’s nobody happier than me,” he concluded.
