IPL 2026 : Axar Patel stands by David Miller amid ‘no-single’ controversy after DC’s heart-wrenching loss to GT

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The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 continues to deliver high-octane drama, and the 14th match of the season was no exception. On Wednesday, the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi transformed into a cauldron of emotions as the Delhi Capitals (DC) faced off against the Gujarat Titans (GT). In a contest that swung like a pendulum until the final delivery, the Titans managed to scrape through with a narrow one-run victory, defending their total of 210. While the scoreboard reflected a loss for Delhi, the real story emerged from the dressing room, where skipper Axar Patel showed leadership far beyond the tactical boundaries of the game.

The climax of the match was centred around a controversial ‘no-single’ call by David Miller. With DC needing just two runs off the final two balls, Miller declined a single to long-off, sending Kuldeep Yadav back to the non-striker’s end. Miller’s gamble to finish the game with a boundary backfired when he missed a slower bouncer from Prasidh Krishna on the final ball, resulting in a desperate run-out of Kuldeep and a heartbreaking defeat.

Social media was quick to scrutinize the veteran South African, but skipper Axar Patel was firm in his defence of his teammate. In a raw and emotional dressing room speech, Axar reminded the squad that without Miller’s explosive 41 off 20 balls, which included a monstrous 106m six, DC wouldn’t have even been in a position to win.

“At the start of this season, I told you all to control emotions and stay calm in any situation. We are all sad, feeling sad, but we can still smile, it’s okay. It is a long tournament. If he (Miller) didn’t hit those sixes, then you know that we would not have been in the game. We’ll go to Chennai and start again. Keep smiling,” Axar told the huddle post-match in dressing room.

Axar’s ‘player-first’ approach served as a soothing balm for a distraught Miller, who had briefly retired hurt earlier in the match with a finger injury before returning to lead the charge.

We keep smiling 😄💙

— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) April 9, 2026

Also WATCH: GT head coach Ashish Nehra goes furious in the dugout over Shubman Gill’s overthrow against DC

The Gujarat Titans will leave Delhi with a massive boost in momentum. Their victory was built on a foundation of aggressive batting, led by Jos Buttler(52) and captain Shubman Gill (70), followed by a surprising but brilliant 55 from Washington Sundar. Despite a magnificent 92 from KL Rahul and Pathum Nissanka’s brisk 41, the Titans’ bowling department held their nerve. Rashid Khan was the game-changer, claiming 3/17 to stifle the middle order and ensure GT secured those two crucial points.

For the Delhi Capitals, the loss is a tough pill to swallow, marking their first defeat of the season after a promising start. However, the tournament moves fast. DC must now turn their focus to their next high-stakes encounter against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. The shift to the spin-friendly tracks of Chennai will test Axar’s leadership and the team’s ability to bounce back from this tactical and emotional rollercoaster.

Also WATCH: Rashid Khan shatters Sameer Rizvi’s stumps with an absolute jaffa during DC vs GT game