DC vs CSK: Irfan Pathan Questions Axar Patel's Toss Decision in IPL 2026
Irfan Pathan raised eyebrows over the Delhi Capitals' decision to bat first after winning the toss in their match against the Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday, May 5, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
At the toss, Axar Patel chose to bat first, reasoning that the pitch might get slower in the second innings. However, the Capitals started off slowly, with Pathum Nissanka and KL Rahul taking their time to find their rhythm. The Super Kings' bowlers were on point, offering very few loose deliveries and consistently applying pressure on the home team.
DC Recover from 69/5 to 155/7, but Samson Leads CSK to Comfortable Chase
The Capitals found themselves in a tough spot at 69/5 after just 11 overs, but Tristan Stubbs, Sameer Rizvi, and Ashutosh Sharma stepped up with some brave innings, helping the team reach a total of 155/7. Although the hosts lost two early wickets, Sanju Samson (87*) and Kartik Sharma (41*) guided the Men in Yellow to victory in just 17.3 overs.
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Pathan didn't hold back in criticizing the Capitals' choice to bat first, especially considering they had been bowled out for just 75 runs a few days earlier against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the same venue.
"Some decision from Delhi are questionable. Batting first on the same ground where just recently you batted first vs RCB n got 75 all out. Need to win all the games now. Hopefully they come back stronger. I still think DC is a good team," Irfan Pathan wrote on his official 'X' (formerly Twitter) handle.
The former India all-rounder pointed out that the Capitals need to win all their remaining matches to have any hope of making it to the playoffs, while still acknowledging that Axar and his team are capable players. Currently, the Capitals have only four wins out of 10 matches, while the Super Kings have managed five wins and five losses in their 10 games.