Former South African cricketer Dale Steyn has urged Delhi Capitals skipper Axar Patel to contribute more with the ball in the Indian Premier League 2026 season. During IPL 2025, the left-arm spinner was surprisingly underutilized, bowling only 34 overs in 11 innings and picking up five wickets at an average of 57.60 and an economy rate of 8.47.
It marked his lowest wicket tally in a single IPL season since 2018 and the second-lowest in his overall 12-year IPL career. Delhi Capitals are set to take on Lucknow Super Giants in their season opener on Wednesday, April 1.
“He (Axar) and the coach would have sat down and said they need more overs from him. He plays for India and is the No.1 player in DC, with a lot of youngsters looking up to him. So he needs to be bowling the overs, and he will do that surely this season,” said Steyn on ESPNcricinfo.
“I find it so strange. But it happens sometimes that a bowler-captain gets clouded and always thinks about looking in another direction. Because he is the captain, he doesn’t want to look like he is potentially selfish by taking on an opportunity. But Axar Patel will definitely look at last season and think about where to improve,” he added.
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Steyn believes the 32-year-old could bowl himself for an over in the powerplay against LSG openers Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh. He also feels Axar would be at his best when operating alongside fellow spinner Kuldeep Yadav in the middle overs.
“It’s obviously an option to use him in the powerplay against Marsh and Markram. But it’s up to him where he bowls. Maybe one over in the powerplay with two right-handers and then bowl in tandem with Kuldeep Yadav in the middle. It could help keep things under control by speeding through the overs to put the batters under pressure. So he might be better suited there, but if there is a matchup that suits him, then give himself an over in the powerplay,” said Steyn.
