Fifties in T20 cricket usually cement a batting place in the XI. But it’s not that simple for Delhi Capitals.
Captain Axar Patel has made it clear that flexibility remains central to their approach, even as Sameer Rizvi continues to make a compelling case for a fixed role.
DC vs MI, IPL 2026 Highlights | Scorecard
“No, of course in T20 cricket, flexibility is very important – how you approach the game. If you feel you have players who can play freely and adapt anywhere, and when the pitch behaves differently, you can use those players accordingly. So it’s about being open. It’s not like if you send someone up, suddenly everything changes. It’s just about making tactical moves, do they work and if they work.”
This stance gets context from how the match against Mumbai Indians unfolded.
Pursuit 163, DC has once again suffered a wobble of the highest ordermuch like their season opener. But Rizvi, who came on as Impact Substitute ahead of Ashutosh Sharma, definitely turned the game around.
He first stitched together a 66-run stand with Pathum Nissanka (44 off 30), steadying the innings before taking complete control of the chase. Rizvi’s 90 off 51 balls with seven fours and seven sixes ensured DC cruised home with 11 balls to spare, with David Miller at the crease.
RIZVI CREATES ITS CLAIM
Rizvi initially played second fiddle to Nissanka, but shifted into gear after her dismissal and dismantled the bowling attack.
He plundered 20 runs off Corbin Bosch and followed it up by smashing consecutive sixes off Mayank Markande to take control. Although he did not reach his first IPL hundred, the knock earned him a standing ovation.
His performances have defied expectations surrounding Ashutosh, who impressed in the closing role last season but had to wait for opportunities this time around.
Axar reiterated that such calls are purely situational.
“No, of course when it comes to planning – when you train together and play cricket together – Ashu also bats really well. But it’s about which player you need on a particular day. If that player gives you a performance at that moment, then that’s great. It’s actually a good problem for me to have to choose. I think it shows how strong our bench strength is.”
Earlier in the game, the DC bowlers laid the foundation for the win by restricting Mumbai to 162 for six.
Alternate captain Suryakumar Yadav anchored the innings with 51 while Rohit Sharma made 35. However, regular wickets ensured that MI never relaxed.
Axar led from the front with the ball, conceding just 22 runs in his four overs and dismissed Rohit at a crucial moment. Mukesh Kumar struck early to remove Ryan Rickelton and Tilak Varma in quick succession, while T Natarajan and Lungi Ngidi added at the death.
Considering the team’s approach this season, Axar also emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum in the long tournament.
“Basically, I feel it’s very important to take it one game at a time. When you’re winning all the time, it’s important to keep that momentum going. Because whenever there’s a break and the momentum stops, it becomes difficult to come back in a tournament like the IPL – which is a long tournament – so you focus on one game, do well and then move on without thinking too much about the past we’ve won. That’s how good I feel about what we’ve won. mistakes year.”
With back-to-back wins to open their campaign and more players, DC’s approach to flexibility is already paying off.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
04 Apr 2026 22:26 IST
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