In a significant blow to the Delhi Capitals (DC), captain and all-rounder Axar Patel was ruled out of the pivotal IPL 2025 match against the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium on May 21 due to illness. Stand-in skipper Faf du Plessis confirmed at the toss that Axar had been “really sick in the last two days” and would be unavailable for the match.
Axar’s absence is particularly impactful given his dual role as a dependable middle-order batsman and a key left-arm spinner. In the 2025 season, he has amassed 263 runs at a strike rate of 157.49 and taken five wickets with an economy rate of 8.47. To fill the void, DC included Madhav Tiwari in the playing XI.
This match holds significant playoff implications. With Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Punjab Kings having already secured their spots, both MI and DC are vying for the final playoff position. MI stands at 14 points, while DC trails closely with 13 points. A victory is essential for either team to keep their playoff hopes alive.
