If it weren’t clear already, IPL 2025 has for once and well proved that every run counts in a tournament so competitive — where one clean hit can often be the difference between a win and a loss. Saving such shots can also have a similar effect, a mantra Axar Patel showed he lives by on Sunday.
Delhi Capitals were left staring at a competitive target of 206 in their first game of the season at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, courtesy of a fine half-century from Tilak Varma as well as supporting cameos from Ryan Rickelton, Surykaumar Yadav, and Naman Dhir. While the number looks decent on paper, stats dictate it is subpar given the recent first innings average score at the venue has been 230. The visitors certainly tried their best to get to the mark, and were bound to get much closer were it not for a flying Axar Patel pulling off one of the best saves in the tournament’s history.
On the fourth ball of the 18th over, Naman Dhit managed to get under a Mitchell Starc length delivery and sent it flying down the ground. A six seemed inevitable as the Kookaburra neared the boundary, when Axar Patel came flying out of nowhere and lept diagonally at full-stretch in a wild attempt to get to the white rock. Not only was the DC skipper successful in getting a hand to the ball, it ended up sticking to his palm which ironically seemed to be in Mumbai’s benefit given there was little chance Axar could stop himself from going over the ropes. While that prediction turned out to be, Axar still defied odds by letting go off the ball at the very last moment even as he crashed to the ground and tumbled around, thus saving his team five crucial runs in a high-scoring encounter.
Twitterati could not be more impressed.
Unreal!
What a save!
Axar Patel almost pulled off an absolute blinder there to dismiss Naman Dhir !! Excellent work nevertheless #DCvsMI #DCvMI
pic.twitter.com/fuDeW2hlPg— Cricketism (@MidnightMusinng) April 13, 2025
Outstanding catch by Abishek Porel on the boundary!
Maintained perfect balance under pressure — a moment of pure class! 🔥#DCvsMI #IPL pic.twitter.com/PiF6bJSRJA— Apni Marziiiiii (@Neutral_25) April 13, 2025
Aura!
True!
ONE OF THE CRAZIEST SAVES IN THE IPL – AXAR PATEL. 🤯👏#MIvsDC #DCvvMI pic.twitter.com/9wxnqZxjR2
— ANAGHA GHOSH (@ghosh_anagha) April 13, 2025
Unreal scenes from Axar Patel — simply out of this world! 🤯🤯🤯#DCvsMI pic.twitter.com/WRwFnVj054
— Anmol Cricket News (@anmocricketnews) April 13, 2025
Its Crazy!
Yeah!
So close! Axar Patel almost grabs a screamer🤯#DCvMI #TATAIPL2025 #IPL2025 #IPL @mipaltan @DelhiCapitals pic.twitter.com/EAOAqtk0Y8
— Nishu Gautam (@NishuGautam10) April 13, 2025
AXAR PATEL – WHAT A CRAZY SAVE. 🤯
– Axar saved 5 runs for Delhi Capitals. #DCvsMI #MIvsDC #DCvMI #RohitSharma #RohitSharma𓃵 #AxarPatel #Hardikpandya #TilakVarmapic.twitter.com/PvCjb7UM4S— Harsh (@Harshsuthar119) April 13, 2025
Unbelievable!
