IPL 2021: I asked Rishabh to let me bowl Super Over - DC spinner Axar Patel

Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel

Spinner Axar Patel emerged as the hero for the Delhi Capitals as they beat Sunrisers Hyderabad in the first Super Over of IPL-14 in Chennai on Sunday. Patel gave away just seven runs in the Super Over against SRH's Kane Williamson and David Warner. DC's Rishabh Pant and Shikhar Dhawan chased the target off the last ball.

Interestingly, it was Patel who approached skipper Pant to let him bowl the all-important over. "When I was in the dressing room, I was thinking that on this wicket, a spinner would be more effective. When I came out of the dressing room after drinking water, the coach and everyone were talking. Their initial thought was to go with a fast bowler, Avesh Khan [he had taken 3-34 in his four overs earlier]. But I thought a spinner would be more effective, so I told Rishabh that I could also bowl this over. He then consulted [head coach] Ricky [Ponting] and it was decided at the last moment that I would bowl," Patel said at the post-match virtual press conference on Sunday night.

The performance was special considering this was Patel's first IPL-14 match having recovered from COVID-19 recently. He had managed just four net sessions following a lengthy 20-day quarantine period. However, Patel insisted that his confidence was always high thanks to his supportive teammates. "When I was in quarantine, my teammates would call me up and we chatted regularly. So, I kept a positive mindset throughout as I felt that would help regain my rhythm. I did not think about how I would perform or if my bowling or batting would be affected. I followed the basics, spent some time in the nets and found my rhythm in those four days. Thereafter, I was ready, both mentally and physically," added Patel, 27, who finished with figures of 4-0-26-2.

Earlier, DC posted 159-4 in their allotted 20 overs, with Prithvi Shaw top-scoring (53 off just 39 balls) for them. In reply, Williamson's unbeaten 66, Jonny Bairstow's 18-ball 38 and a six-ball 14 not out from No. 9 Jagadeesha Suchith saw SRH finish on 159-7 to take the game into the Super Over.