Axar Patel wants Delhi Capitals to repeat last year’s IPL performance

Delhi Capitals enjoyed a season to remember last year when the IPL was held in the UAE. The team reached the final before losing it to Mumbai Indians. All-rounder Axar Patel was one of the star players for his team, picking up 9 wickets in 15 matches the last time the IPL was held in the UAE in 2020. He said that the team will look to build on its “happy memories” from the IPL 2020 season in the second half of the VIVO IPL 2021 season. “When it was announced that the second half of the tournament will be held in the UAE, I thought about our performance the last time we were here. We have happy memories from that tournament as we reached our first-ever IPL final. We are looking to repeat our performance and hopefully, just go one step further in the final this season,” said the all-rounder, according to Delhi Capitals’ press release.

Axar, who was part of the Indian squad in the recently-concluded Test series in England, spoke about the difference in weather conditions between UK and UAE. “It’s been a drastic change for us as far as the weather is concerned. It was quite cold in England and now we are getting used to the heat here. When we stood on our balconies during quarantine, we got an idea about the heat, but we got to know the full extent of the weather conditions when we started practicing in the nets. We are looking to get used to the conditions in the next 2-3 days,” he added.

Quizzed about his personal goals for the remainder of the season, Axar said, “My personal goals are always aligned with the team goals. I always think about what the team needs and then set my personal goals accordingly. I always carry out my preparations according to the team’s requirements. And personally, I just look to get better with every match in every season,” he added.

‘I think every team has an equal chance of doing well’

Table toppers Delhi Capitals are set to take on Sunrisers Hyderabad on 22 September after the remainder of the IPL season resumes. Despite Delhi being on top of the table, Amit Mishra feels that all teams will have to start afresh when the season resumes this month. He elaborated, “We are at the top of the table right now, but we have to start afresh. We have to set our strategies again. I think every team has an equal chance of doing well now since we are all re-starting the tournament. We are playing the second half of the IPL in a different country, so we have to devise our strategies according to the conditions here in the UAE.”

The leg-spinner added that the Delhi Capitals will try to build on the momentum they had gained in the first half of the season. “We have been doing well in the last two seasons and the performances have come because of a collective effort. From coaches to selectors to players, everyone should be credited for Delhi Capitals’ progress as a team in the last few years. We will try to build on our momentum from the first half of the IPL 2021 season and take one match at a time once the season resumes,” said the 38-year-old.