Delhi Capitals endured another frustrating outing in IPL 2026, and once again, captain Axar Patel’s struggles with the bat came under the spotlight during their clash against Chennai Super Kings at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. After winning the toss and opting to bat first, DC found themselves in early trouble. When Axar walked in at No. 5, the scoreboard read a shaky 52/3 in eight overs.
It was a moment that demanded composure and leadership, but the left-hander failed to steady the innings. Managing just two runs off six deliveries, Axar’s brief stay ended in the 11th over when he attempted a back-foot drive off Gurjapneet Singh, only to find Akeal Hosein stationed at cover.
The dismissal summed up what has been a disappointing campaign for the all-rounder. In seven innings so far, Axar has scored just 33 runs at a strike rate below 90—numbers that fall well short of expectations for a player of his calibre, especially one leading the side.
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Unsurprisingly, reactions poured in across social media, with fans questioning whether the added responsibility of captaincy is affecting his performance. As both Delhi’s skipper and India’s vice-captain in limited-overs cricket, Axar carries significant expectations. However, his recent outings suggest a dip in confidence, raising concerns at a crucial stage of the tournament.
His decision at the toss also came under scrutiny. Choosing to bat first didn’t pay off, as DC slipped further to 69/5 by the 11th over, leaving their middle order exposed under pressure.
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Former South African all-rounder Shaun Pollock had already highlighted Axar’s importance ahead of the game, stressing that Delhi need more from their captain with both bat and ball if they are to stay alive in the playoff race. That assessment rang true as the match unfolded.
With four wins and five losses in nine matches, Delhi Capitals find themselves in a precarious position on the points table. If they are to turn their season around, Axar Patel’s return to form—both as a leader and an all-round performer—could be the defining factor.
Another match, another failure with bat for Axar Patel. Not a single match, he performed this season for Delhi Capitals, I have always said that Axar was never a captain material & then they have a coach who never looked like a coach material for DC.
Since, Shreyas left them,… pic.twitter.com/Y1lSHjE3by
— Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) May 5, 2026
Axar is right up there with Rahane and Pant in the “worst captain” debate 🤡
Winning the toss and choosing to bat in these conditions? Already made the same mistake vs RCB 💀
Looks like he’s desperate to get himself sackedpic.twitter.com/F0OhxNaLXe
— chettan (@RamSrivs) May 5, 2026
Captain Axar Patel in IPL 2026:
– 0(1)
– 2(3)
– 1(2)
– 26(19) retd hurt
– 2(3)
– 0(3)
– 2(6)Total- 33(37), SR- 89 pic.twitter.com/kyCpn8tddA
— TukTuk Academy (@TukTuk_Academy) May 5, 2026
Axar Patel’s batting average drops to 5.5. That’s the lowest average for a captain in an IPL season, who has the ability to bat.
The only captains to have a lower avg in an IPL season are Shane Warne and Zaheer Khan.
— Spandan Roy (@talksports45) May 5, 2026
🚨Worst Captains in IPL History 🚨
Axar Patel – 0(1), 2(3), 1(2), 26(19), 2(3), 0(2), 2(5),
Ruturaj Gaikwad – 6(11), 28(22), 7(3), 15(18), 7(6), 19(13), 22(14), 74*(60), 67*(48)
Rishabh pant – 7(9), 68*(50), 10(9), 18(11), 1(6), 43(23), 0(3), 42(38), 15(10)
Ajinkya Rahane -… pic.twitter.com/mFpNxTNQSv
— MANU. (@IMManu_18) May 5, 2026
Axar Patel’s batting form has completely fallen off a cliff.
Just 35 runs in his last 16 T20s (10 innings) at a shocking average of 4.37 -and 26 of those came in a single knock. Remove that one innings, and there’s barely anything left. For a player batting regularly in the lower… pic.twitter.com/uz4zEd269C— Tapish (@crictapish) May 5, 2026
I don’t know why axer patel choose bat first on this tough pitch! 😑
Kl rahul & pathum nissanka got out brilliant bowling by akeal hosein & Mukesh Choudhary pic.twitter.com/Da2gB6Tbau
— VK (@Aur_vicky) May 5, 2026
