IPL 2026: Axar Patel dedicates DC’s win to young fans who lost their lives in tragic accident

Published - 02 May 2026, 23:22 IST | Updated - 02 May 2026, 23:28 IST

In a heartfelt gesture, Delhi Capitals skipper Axar Patel dedicated his side’s convincing seven-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur to two young fans who tragically passed away earlier this week.

The win marked Delhi’s return to form after suffering three consecutive defeats in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. However, the result was overshadowed by a heartbreaking incident involving two passionate supporters of the franchise.

Cousins Yagya Bhatia (20) and Abhav Bhatia (14) lost their lives in a fatal road accident while returning home after Delhi’s previous match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The duo was riding a bike when it was hit by a truck near Ashoka Road in Delhi, as reported by the Indian Express.

Speaking during the post-match presentation, Axar expressed his condolences and paid tribute to the deceased fans in an emotional statement.

“Following the tragedy involving our fans after the last match, I want to express my deepest condolences. I would like to dedicate this victory to them; they were part of our DC Toli family,” Axar had said.

The report adds that the truck driver fled the scene after the collision, leaving the victims critically injured on the road. They were rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, where they were later declared dead on arrival.

The Delhi Police tracked down the vehicle in East Delhi’s Shakarpur area on the same day. While the truck owner and a helper were detained, the driver remained free.

Earlier, Delhi Capitals also took to social media to mourn the loss of the two fans, stating that their presence and unwavering support would always be remembered by the franchise.

After their win over the Rajasthan Royals, the Delhi-based franchise are currently at the sixth position on the points table, with four wins to their name. The game against RR also marked a successful return for Australia’s pace great Mitchell Starc.