Axar Patel Opts to Bowl in Landmark 100th Match as Delhi Capitals Face SRH

Hyderabad, April 2026 : Delhi Capitals skipper Axar Patel marked a personal milestone by leading his side for the 100th time in franchise colours, winning the toss and opting to bowl first against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Match 31 of the IPL 2026 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal on Tuesday.

The decision to field first came amid expectations of a slower surface, with both teams factoring pitch conditions into their strategies. Axar, who has been enjoying a streak of favourable toss outcomes this season, admitted that while luck has been on his side in that regard, he would have preferred more wins on the field as well.

“I am getting lucky with the toss, but ideally, we would have liked to win more matches too. We are going to bowl first,” Axar said at the toss. Reflecting on his milestone appearance, the all-rounder expressed surprise and pride. “I wasn’t even aware this was my 100th game for Delhi Capitals. It feels special to represent one franchise for so long, and I hope we can finish this game on a winning note.”

He also emphasised the importance of maintaining balance within the squad, highlighting the need for flexibility based on match conditions. “To keep the team balanced, you need to pick your XI according to the pitch. I always tell the team that everyone has a role to play. We try to select the best possible combination,” he added.

Delhi Capitals made one change to their playing XI, bringing in Nitish Rana in place of Auqib Nabi as they looked to strengthen their lineup for the conditions.

On the other side, Sunrisers Hyderabad, led by Ishan Kishan, also tweaked their combination, anticipating a surface that could slow down as the game progresses. Kishan noted that the pitch appeared different from those used in earlier matches at the venue.

“It’s not the same track we’ve played on before. It looks like it might slow down, so we’ve made a few changes to suit those conditions,” Kishan said. The team introduced fresh faces, including Harsh Dubey and Dilshan Madushanka, while making adjustments to their bowling attack to include more wicket-taking options, particularly in the spin department.

Kishan stressed that execution would be key regardless of the conditions. “They’ve been doing a good job, but for us, it’s about executing our plans well. We’ll take it one game at a time,” he added.

Sunrisers Hyderabad made multiple changes, with Nitish Rana also coming into their setup, while a few players from the previous match missed out as the team recalibrated its strategy.

The match features a strong Delhi Capitals lineup, including players like KL Rahul, David Miller, Kuldeep Yadav, and Mukesh Kumar, alongside Axar Patel. Sunrisers Hyderabad, meanwhile, boast a formidable batting order with names such as Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen, and Abhishek Sharma, supported by a versatile bowling unit.

With both teams looking to adapt quickly to the pitch conditions, the contest promises to be a closely fought encounter. For Axar Patel, the match holds added significance as he celebrates a major milestone, hoping to cap it off with a crucial victory for his side.

Playing XIs:

Delhi Capitals: KL Rahul (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Sameer Rizvi, Axar Patel (c), David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Nitish Rana, Lungi Ngidi, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar

Impact substitutes: Karun Nair, Ashutosh Sharma, Tripurana Vijay, Dushmantha Chameera, Auqib Nabi

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (c), Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora (wk), Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivang Kumar, Harsh Dubey, Sakib Hussain, Eshan Malinga

Impact substitutes: Smaran Ravichandran, Harshal Patel, Praful Hinge, Liam Livingstone, Dilshan Madushanka