Delhi Capitals’ (DC) forlorn skipper Axar Patel wants his team to try and move on after it suffered a nine-wicket rout at the hands of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday.

On a warm evening where Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood caused mayhem under lights, DC was shot out for a paltry 75 in 16.3 overs. According to Axar, the run fest at this venue just two days ago, when Punjab Kings chased down a record 265, may have had an effect on the host’s batters.

“What happened in the last game, when we lost after scoring 264, may have had an effect. There was hesitation from the batters. Other than that, it was bad luck. The batters just kept getting out within a few balls.

“We will just have to forget this day and move on,” Axar said at the post-match press conference. “Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood are world-class bowlers who held a good length.”

With DC’s fans expressing their anger after an abject display, the 32-year-old pleaded for support for his players. “If the fans are disheartened, the players are just as disheartened. This is the time for the fans to support the team. The players are down. At this time, it is very important for the fans to lend their support and trust the players,” he stated.

Meanwhile, RCB, with six wins in eight games, is hitting the right notes. Asked if the defending champion is the hot favourite to go all the way, Krunal Pandya said, “You can’t think too far ahead in this tournament.

“There are six more games to go in the league stage. We want to just continue doing the right things more often than not, stick to the process and look to get the desired results.”

Published on Apr 28, 2026