Axar Patel, right, celebrates the wicket of Aaron Finch during the Delhi Capitals' win over Royal Challengers Bangalore. Ron Gaunt / Sportzpics for BCCI
Axar Patel, right, celebrates the wicket of Aaron Finch during the Delhi Capitals' win over Royal Challengers Bangalore. Ron Gaunt / Sportzpics for BCCI
Axar Patel, right, celebrates the wicket of Aaron Finch during the Delhi Capitals' win over Royal Challengers Bangalore. Ron Gaunt / Sportzpics for BCCI
Axar Patel, right, celebrates the wicket of Aaron Finch during the Delhi Capitals' win over Royal Challengers Bangalore. Ron Gaunt / Sportzpics for BCCI

Cricket

IPL 2020: 'Under the radar' Axar Patel fully appreciated by Delhi Capitals teammates, says Ravichandran Ashwin

The left-arm spinner is the most economical bowler so far in the 2020 IPL, yet often goes about his work with barely a mention during the matches

Paul Radley
Paul Radley
Dubai

October 06, 2020

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Axar Patel is regarded as a hero within the Delhi Capitals side, even if his performances often go under the radar, according to Ravichandran Ashwin.

The left-arm spinner is the most economical bowler so far in the 2020 IPL, yet often goes about his work with barely a mention during the matches.

In four games so far, he has yet to go for more than 18 runs. He has conceded just three boundaries in the tournament to date, and no sixes.

Restored to the side against Royal Challengers Bangalore after missing their match against Kolkata Knight Riders at the weekend, he was straight back into his routine.

He took two for 18, including the wickets of Bangalore’s overseas batsmen Aaron Finch and Moeen Ali, and limited the scoring rate of Virat Kohli in the process.

Ashwin, his more celebrated spin-bowling partner, says Axar is full appreciated by his teammates.

“Sometimes what happens in T20 cricket is we blow up images, stats and numbers of bowlers who get the purple cap [for leading wicket-taker],” Ashwin said.

“Even likewise for the orange cap [for leading run-scrorer], sometimes I feel it is a little too overrated in a game like T20.

“It is somewhat like football where people are playing their roles. One such player is Axar.

“He always goes under the radar. He bowls those good overs that build the pressure up for someone else to capitalise with wickets.

“These are the heroes that are really appreciated inside the dressing room for Delhi Capitals. Ricky [Ponting, the coach] is very particular on that.

“We stick to the roles and when you feel appreciated, people want to hold on to their roles.”

Delhi beat Bangalore by 59 runs at the Dubai International Stadium to return to the top of the IPL table.

_______________

Delhi Capitals v Royal Challengers Bangalore player ratings

DELHI CAPITALS RATINGS: Prithvi Shaw – 8. Provided his side with just the sort of fast start they were after, making 42 off 23 before being caught down the leg-side off Siraj. Sportzpics for BCCI
DELHI CAPITALS RATINGS: Prithvi Shaw – 8. Provided his side with just the sort of fast start they were after, making 42 off 23 before being caught down the leg-side off Siraj. Sportzpics for BCCI
Shikhar Dhawan – 6. Into the 30s again, but could not keep pace with Shaw at the other end, and fell trying to up the rate. Sportzpics for BCCI
Shikhar Dhawan – 6. Into the 30s again, but could not keep pace with Shaw at the other end, and fell trying to up the rate. Sportzpics for BCCI
Shreyas Iyer – 5. Made it to 11 off 13, then fell to a brilliant catch by Padikkal on the boundary, which the fielder relayed to himself. Sportzpics for BCCI
Shreyas Iyer – 5. Made it to 11 off 13, then fell to a brilliant catch by Padikkal on the boundary, which the fielder relayed to himself. Sportzpics for BCCI
Rishabh Pant – 7. Appeared to be competing for both strike and scoring rate with Stoinis, which was no bad thing for his team given the circumstances. Sportzpics for BCCI
Rishabh Pant – 7. Appeared to be competing for both strike and scoring rate with Stoinis, which was no bad thing for his team given the circumstances. Sportzpics for BCCI
Marcus Stoinis – 9. Brutal against his former side. He was unbeaten on 53 off 26 balls when the innings reached its end. Sportzpics for BCCI
Marcus Stoinis – 9. Brutal against his former side. He was unbeaten on 53 off 26 balls when the innings reached its end. Sportzpics for BCCI
Shimron Hetmyer – 7. Only had seven balls at the end of the innings, so the 11 he scored was a fair effort. Sportzpics for BCCI
Shimron Hetmyer – 7. Only had seven balls at the end of the innings, so the 11 he scored was a fair effort. Sportzpics for BCCI
Axar Patel – 9.5. Two four 18 from four overs, including the wickets of Finch and Moeen. The most economical bowler in the tournament so far. Sportzpics for BCCI
Axar Patel – 9.5. Two four 18 from four overs, including the wickets of Finch and Moeen. The most economical bowler in the tournament so far. Sportzpics for BCCI
Ravichandran Ashwin – 7. Had to fight his urge to run out Finch, who was miles out of his ground backing up. One for 26 was a strong return. Sportzpics for BCCI
Ravichandran Ashwin – 7. Had to fight his urge to run out Finch, who was miles out of his ground backing up. One for 26 was a strong return. Sportzpics for BCCI
Kagiso Rabada – 9. Spared Finch first ball when he downed a return catch, but still ended with four for 24 from his quota. Sportzpics for BCCI
Kagiso Rabada – 9. Spared Finch first ball when he downed a return catch, but still ended with four for 24 from his quota. Sportzpics for BCCI
Anrich Nortje – 9. Another fine return by one of the signings of the season. His two for 22 included the wicket of De Villiers. Sportzpics for BCCI
Anrich Nortje – 9. Another fine return by one of the signings of the season. His two for 22 included the wicket of De Villiers. Sportzpics for BCCI
Harshal Patel – 5. The only one of the Delhi bowlers to really suffer as he went for 43 from his four overs. Sportzpics for BCCI
Harshal Patel – 5. The only one of the Delhi bowlers to really suffer as he went for 43 from his four overs. Sportzpics for BCCI
ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE RATINGS: Devdutt Padikkal – 5. Chipped a catch to Stoinis off Ashwin when on four. He had been outstanding in the field, particularly in catching Iyer. Sportzpics for BCCI
ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE RATINGS: Devdutt Padikkal – 5. Chipped a catch to Stoinis off Ashwin when on four. He had been outstanding in the field, particularly in catching Iyer. Sportzpics for BCCI
Aaron Finch – 4. In the time it took him to make 13, he could have been out three times. Rabada dropped a caught and bowled first ball. Ashwin spared him from a run-out while backing up. Finally he fell to Axar. Sportzpics for BCCI
Aaron Finch – 4. In the time it took him to make 13, he could have been out three times. Rabada dropped a caught and bowled first ball. Ashwin spared him from a run-out while backing up. Finally he fell to Axar. Sportzpics for BCCI
Virat Kohli - 7. More time spent at the crease should help him. He made 43 from 39 balls before falling to Rabada. Sportzpics for BCCI
Virat Kohli - 7. More time spent at the crease should help him. He made 43 from 39 balls before falling to Rabada. Sportzpics for BCCI
AB de Villiers – 4. Fell to his compatriot Nortje when on nine, as he top edged a skier to Dhawan at mid-on. Sportzpics for BCCI
AB de Villiers – 4. Fell to his compatriot Nortje when on nine, as he top edged a skier to Dhawan at mid-on. Sportzpics for BCCI
Moeen Ali – 6. Struggled with the bat, and was not exactly miserly with the ball. At least he got the wicket of Iyer, though. Sportzpics for BCCI
Moeen Ali – 6. Struggled with the bat, and was not exactly miserly with the ball. At least he got the wicket of Iyer, though. Sportzpics for BCCI
Washington Sundar – 8. Superb again. Celebrated his 21st birthday by going for less runs – 20 – off his four overs. Tried to get the run chase moving, but it was too late by then. Sportzpics for BCCI
Washington Sundar – 8. Superb again. Celebrated his 21st birthday by going for less runs – 20 – off his four overs. Tried to get the run chase moving, but it was too late by then. Sportzpics for BCCI
Shivam Dube – 5. Not given a chance to bowl this time around, and the game was gone by the time he got to the wicket to bat. Sportzpics for BCCI
Shivam Dube – 5. Not given a chance to bowl this time around, and the game was gone by the time he got to the wicket to bat. Sportzpics for BCCI
Isuru Udana – 7. His figures might not reflect it, but the Sri Lankan seamer has been a valuable addition to the RCB line up. Sportzpics for BCCI
Isuru Udana – 7. His figures might not reflect it, but the Sri Lankan seamer has been a valuable addition to the RCB line up. Sportzpics for BCCI
Navdeep Saini – 2. Conceded 48 from three overs, and bowled an ugly, 143kph beamer that crushed the fingers of Stoinis. Sportzpics for BCCI
Navdeep Saini – 2. Conceded 48 from three overs, and bowled an ugly, 143kph beamer that crushed the fingers of Stoinis. Sportzpics for BCCI
Yuzvendra Chahal – 5. A rare occasion where he neither made an impact, nor finished his quota of four overs. Sportzpics for BCCI
Yuzvendra Chahal – 5. A rare occasion where he neither made an impact, nor finished his quota of four overs. Sportzpics for BCCI
Mohammed Siraj – 6. A mixed bag. Dismissed Shaw and Pant, but – like Saini to Stoinis – let slip a beamer at Delhi’s wicketkeeper. Sportzpics for BCCI
Mohammed Siraj – 6. A mixed bag. Dismissed Shaw and Pant, but – like Saini to Stoinis – let slip a beamer at Delhi’s wicketkeeper. Sportzpics for BCCI
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Key figures in the life of the fort

Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.

Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.

Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae

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