Delhi Capitals skipper Axar Patel would like to quickly forget the underwhelming performances of his side in home conditions and get their stuttering campaign back on track when they take on Sunrisers Hyderabad, who are teetering on the edge of elimination, in an IPL match here on Monday.
Recent defeats for Delhi Capitals — the latest being the 14-run loss to Kolkata Knight Riders — have seen their campaign take a beating but they have still managed to keep their playoff hopes alive thanks to their success on rival territory, something they would be eyeing when they face Pat Cummins’ side.
With Axar Patel nursing an injury — he had walked off the field during KKR’s batting after injuring his left hand on April 30 — it remains to be seen if the charismatic all-rounder has recovered fully in the intervening period.
Axar suffered a bruise while fielding but despite the discomfort he smashed a 23-ball 43. However, the wound, if not fully healed could come in the way of the left-arm spinner bowling his full array of variations.
Delhi Capitals, currently placed fifth on the table with 12 points from 10 games, have in Axar a captain who has led the side from the front, and his absence — or even a curtailed role — could harm the team, given that they desperately need to find the winning ways after two successive losses on their home ground — to KKR and RCB.