Starc won the game in the 20th over, says DC captain Axar Patel

Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel said the contribution of Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc in the thrilling win against Rajasthan Royals showed why the great bowler is a legend

Hyderabad: Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel said the contribution of Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc in the thrilling win against Rajasthan Royals showed why the great bowler is a legend.

“I was thinking (on thoughts before the last over), if Mitch can execute, we will be in this. He bowled almost 12 yorkers. That’s why he is such an Australian legend. I guess he missed only one ball as far as execution was concerned. The field was changed, but he kept at it. He won the game in the 20th over,” Axar explained in the post-match briefing.

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“All’s well that ends well. The way we started, the way the powerplay went—I thought we could have accelerated a bit more. We were talking to the batters during the first strategic time-out,” he said. “They told us the wicket isn’t easy when you come in. I asked them to keep up the intent. But we got momentum after the 12 or 13th over while
batting,” he said.

“The ball was gripping. It wasn’t easy for the new batter. The set batter was finding it better. When the runs flow, the panic button sets in. I told myself and the troops after the strategic time-out in the bowling innings that the real game starts now,” Axar said.

“Won’t be easy in the middle overs. It won’t be easy to hit fours and sixes. We will have to do something on the deck, as nothing willhappen on its own. When the set batter gets out, it isn’t easy for the new batters here,” the Delhi captain said.

“You do get confidence when the team is winning. But as a captain, you do think of contributing. I tried to set examples. I batted and bowledwell today, I feel,” Axar said.