Aaron Finch, a former captain of Australia, has voiced criticism against Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel for failing to bowl his full allocation of four overs in their IPL 2026 game against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Sunrisers Hyderabad batted first and reached a formidable 242 for 2 in 20 overs, driven by Abhishek Sharma’s unbeaten 135 from 68 deliveries. Delhi Capitals could only manage 195 for 9 in reply, resulting in a 47-run loss. Patel has faced significant backlash for his tactics, especially for not using his complete overs and opting instead for part-time spinner Nitish Rana to bowl all four of his. Rana gave away 55 runs during his spell, marking a key misstep for Delhi Capitals. In contrast, main spinners Patel and Kuldeep Yadav each delivered just two overs, leaking 53 runs together. On ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out program, Finch shared his astonishment at the team’s approach. ‘We’ve been puzzled by this,’ he remarked. ‘The two leading Indian spinners, captain Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, only bowled four overs combined. Yet, part-time off-spinner Nitish Rana got four overs. That decision seems illogical to me.’ Finch also challenged Patel’s reluctance to bowl himself in high-pressure situations, given his status as an experienced player and two-time T20 World Cup champion. ‘As the captain, senior member, retained athlete, and top bowler, he holds a key role in India’s team. That’s a major accomplishment. Being a two-time World Cup winner, his lack of faith in his own skills under stress or against left-handed batters reveals much about his mindset,’ Finch stated. During the contest, Sunrisers Hyderabad capitalized on Sharma’s outstanding century to set 242 in 20 overs. Delhi Capitals fell considerably behind in their pursuit, scoring only 195 and enduring a decisive 47-run setback.
