In a high-stakes clash between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, the home ground of DC, in IPL 2025, Axar Patel delivered a game-changing over that derailed RCB’s chase. RCB won the toss and opted to bowl first, with a target of 163 runs after DC posted 162 for the loss of eight wickets. RCB looked stable initially, scoring 19 runs in two overs, but stumbled to 21/2 by the end of the third over, thanks to Axar’s brilliant twin strikes.
DC, despite struggling early on, managed to set a fighting total of 162 in their 20 overs. In response, RCB needed a solid start, but Axar Patel had other plans. In the third over of the innings, Axar first dismissed Jacob Bethell for 12 runs, as the batter attempted a pull shot to deep backward square where Karun Nair completed a diving catch. Just two balls later, Axar struck again, removing Devdutt Padikkal, who tried to cut a quicker delivery outside off but only managed an inside edge onto his stumps.
Axar’s tight lines and clever variations shifted the momentum firmly towards DC. By the end of the Powerplay, RCB were struggling at 35 for 3, still needing 128 runs from 84 balls, with Virat Kohli at the crease trying to stabilize the innings.