'The way he contained Rohit Sharma was notable' - Irfan Pathan lauds DC star after win over MI

Published - 05 Apr 2026, 12:21 IST | Updated - 05 Apr 2026, 13:53 IST

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan heaped praise on Axar Patel's captaincy during the Delhi Capitals' six-wicket win against the Mumbai Indians at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday, April 4.

Pathan highlighted the fact that Axar used himself and Vipraj Nigam inside the power play when Suryakumar Yadav and Rohit Sharma were batting together. The cricketer-turned-commentator also mentioned that Axar didn't shy away from bowling in tough situations, and his field placements were also on point, eventually leading to the big wicket of Rohit.

“Axar Patel’s captaincy deserves praise. He brought in spin early, giving at least two overs to spinners in the powerplay. Even when using the fast bowlers, there was a clear plan to bowl into the pitch. He is not afraid to bowl in tough situations himself, which was great to see," Pathan said while speaking in a video on his YouTube channel.

“Even in the middle overs, whenever required, he bowled to set batters with smart planning. The way he contained Rohit Sharma was also notable. He kept bowling at the stumps consistently, then placed an extra cover fielder and shifted to a slightly wider line outside off. Eventually, Rohit was dismissed in the covers. He is a very smart player, and I am really liking his captaincy,” he added.

Irfan also applauded Mukesh Kumar's efforts with the new ball. The Bengal seamer dismissed Ryan Rickelton and Tilak Varma in the space of three balls to put the Mumbai Indians on the back foot inside the power play.

“The way Mukesh Kumar picked up two wickets, dismissing Rickelton, was impressive. He did not start very well, but then he adjusted his length, went a bit shorter, and started bowling more consistently on a back-of-length. After that, he used variations effectively and also got Tilak Varma out," Pathan said.

IPL 2026: Mukesh lauds Rizvi for match-winning show vs MI

Delhi Capitals restricted the Mumbai Indians to 162/6 in their 20 overs. In reply, Sameer Rizvi's 51-ball 90 paved the way for a comprehensive six-wicket win with 11 balls to spare for the home side.