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Axar Patel, the captain of Delhi Capitals, is having a challenging phase in IPL 2025, with his bowling performance being notably underwhelming. Despite being an experienced player, Patel’s bowling average has skyrocketed to 207.00, which is the second-worst for a bowler who has bowled over 20 overs in the tournament’s history.

Axar Patel has managed just one wicket in 23 overs bowled in this season, a striking contrast to his pre-2025 average of 27.90. Even more concerning is his elevated economy rate of 9.00, up from his previous IPL overall economy rate of 7.34. Players and analysts have noted that these figures come despite bowling on pitches that have been generally favorable to bowlers, indicating that the issue might not purely be form-based.

In a recent match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Axar continued his dry spell, ending with figures of 0/29 in his four overs, even though he was tried in different bowling phases, including three overs during the powerplay. This indicates a strategic attempt to utilize him effectively as a captain, yet it hasn’t yielded the expected results.

Despite Axar’s personal struggles with the ball, Delhi Capitals continue to perform well, winning five out of their seven matches. This success has largely been attributed to strong performances from other team members like Vipraj Nigam, Kuldeep Yadav, and Mitchell Starc, which has overshadowed Axar’s bowling woes.

There is speculation that his captaincy responsibilities might be affecting his bowling form. As the tournament progresses towards the playoffs, there could be increased scrutiny on his performance should the team’s form dip. Historically, prior to IPL 2025, Axar demonstrated commendable bowling skills in the IPL with 123 wickets and a promising international record, including 20 wickets in 16 T20 Internationals since 2024.

The Delhi Capitals camp remains optimistic about a turnaround in Axar’s form, focusing on his leadership skills and the team’s overall strengths. However, the reliance on Axar’s strategic acumen over his on-field performance is something that will be closely monitored as the season unfolds.

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