IPL 2025: Mitchell Starc the toast of Delhi Capitals camp after end game

The first Super Over of IPL 2025 produced a photo finish as expected on Wednesday night, with Delhi Capitals becoming the first team to reach 10 points with five wins out of six and taking a firm step towards the play-offs. It may still be halfway through the season, but the trend has been teams with 16 points (eight wins) normally assure themselves of making the cut and Capitals are well in sight of the first goal.

It has been a collective team effort on the part of the easygoing Axar Patel’s men so far, but at the Kotla last night, it was the swing masterclass from Mitchell Starc which made the difference in the end. The fact that he was voted Player of the Match for his one wicket — sending the match to a tie by defending eight runs in the last over of the Rajasthan Royals chase and then bowling the nerve-wracking Super Over — showed what the senior pro brings to the table.

No wonder Axar could not stop gushing. “Getting the reverse swing is one thing, but executing it is very important. He (Starc) was executing it really well under pressure. We already had discussions about the field placement during the team meetings. I just asked him to back himself,’’ he said after the match.

Axar Patel, Delhi Capitals captain Today, when he (Starc) came to bowl the 18th over, I thought that he was executing it correctly; he knew where to bowl. He is such a big player and a legend for Australia. He has a very clear mindset as to how he is going to execute his plans even in the death overs

“Today, when he came to bowl the 18th over, I thought that he was executing it correctly; he knew where to bowl. He is such a big player and a legend for Australia. He has a very clear mindset as to how he is going to execute his plans even in the death overs,” the spinning allrounder added.

Elevated to vice-captaincy of the India T20 team earlier this year, Axar has been carrying a relaxed demeanour in his leadership in the IPL too, which helps him bond well with his teammates and keep things simple. “As captain, I’m enjoying my role. I was doing all this for state cricket as well. I know what to do and what not to do. When you get the chance to run the team according to you and if you get a chance to play the way you want to play cricket, that’s the best thing. I'm enjoying it on and off the field.”

Asked about playing the Super Over, the captain jokingly added, “Aisi situation mein main hi kyun aage aa jata hoon (why do I always come forward in such situations)? But these are the situations that show the character of the team. It was very good for me as a captain to see my team perform like this and clinch a win in such a situation.”

Talking about his own batting form as Axar clobbered 34 off 14 balls, the 31-year-old said: “I’ve been batting well for a year-and-a-half. I bat according to what the team requires. In this match, we were maintaining that left-right combination and that’s why I came out to bat a little late. It’s a team game, and as I said, I just do what the team needs.”

They will certainly have a spring in their steps when Delhi take on the Gujarat Titans on Saturday.