On April 16th, IPL 2025, Delhi Capitals defeated Rajasthan Royals in a nail-biting Super Over match at Arun Jaitley Stadium through the leadership of Axar Patel. Abhishek Porel scored 49 from 37 balls, while Tristan Stubbs remained unbeaten on 34 from 18, and Axar Patel hit 34 from his 14 balls to help Delhi Capitals reach 188/5. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Rana both scored fifty runs for Rajasthan Royals, but Mitchell Starc delivered a perfect performance in the Super Over to give victory to Delhi Capitals.

At his post-match news conference, Axar Patel expressed his joy about leading the team as he used his state cricket experience. “As a captain, I’m enjoying my role. I was doing all this for state cricket as well. I know what to do and what not to do,” he said. He understands both the proper actions and improper behaviors he needs to take in this situation. “When you get the chance to run the team according to you and play the way you want, that’s the best thing.”

Looking back at the Super Over, Patel joked, 'Aisi situation mei main hi kyon aage aa jata hun,' but praised his side's perseverance. "These are the moments that reveal the character of the team," he exclaimed, ecstatic over the victory. His leadership and calmness in tight spots were instrumental in steering the dramatic conclusion.

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Starc’s Mastery and Patel’s Team-First Approach

During the critical moment, Patel commended Australian bowler Mitchell Starc for his excellent execution of reverse swing. Starc's ability to master reverse swing stands alone from his ability to execute this technique effectively, as he displayed peak performance in the 18th over and death overs, according to Bumrah's evaluation. The team previously discussed field placements with Patel, who declared, “He’s a legend for Australia with a clear mindset.” During batting, Patel explained that his play depends on team needs by entering the match only when necessary to preserve the left-right batting order.