'I have injured my finger' - DC captain Axar Patel reveals why he didn't bowl early against CSK

Delhi Capitals (DC) defeated Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 25 runs at their home ground on Saturday, April 5. After winning the toss and electing to bat first, DC posted a competitive total of 183 in their 20 overs, with KL Rahul leading the charge with a well-made 77 off 51 balls, supported by valuable contributions from the rest of the batting lineup.

In the second innings, DC bowlers dominated the proceedings, not allowing CSK batters to settle at any point. All the bowlers delivered economical spells, keeping the pressure firmly on the hosts. For CSK, Vijay Shankar top-scored with 69* off 54 balls, but his slow innings failed to provide the momentum needed to chase down the target.

DC captain Axar Patel acknowledged that winning three matches in a row was not easy and credited the entire team for their contribution, noting the side's strong balance. While pleased with the victories, the left-arm spinner mentioned managing an injured finger, which limited his bowling. The skipper felt the team has not played a perfect game yet, emphasising how momentum can shift anytime in the IPL.

"I didn't expect it to be easy (on winning three on the bounce). Everyone contributed, the team balance looks good. Feels good as a captain to win three out of three. I was saving myself (on not bowling much today) and I also have an injured finger. Every match, there are some great catches and some drops as well. As a captain, I don't think we have played a perfect match yet. IPL is a long tournament, the momentum can swing anytime," said Axar at the post-match presentation.

Also read: IPL 2025 Memes: Hilarious Reactions from CSK vs DC, Match 17 at MA Chidambaram Stadium

With three consecutive wins against LSG, SRH, and CSK, Delhi Capitals have climbed to the top of the points table with six points. They will look to continue their winning streak in their next outing against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Thursday, April 10 in Bengaluru.