Axar Patel fined heavily for Code of Conduct breach against Punjab Kings

Axar Patel has been fined after Delhi Capitals (DC) maintained a slow over rate during match No. 55 of IPL 2026 against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala. The Delhi Capitals captain has been fined INR 12 lakhs under Article 2.22 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct as it was DC's first offence of the ongoing season.

The clash began with Axar winning the toss and putting Punjab into bat. The hosts batted reasonably well and posted 210 on the board for the loss of five wickets. In reply, Delhi Capitals scaled the target down with three wickets and six balls to spare.

Axar was one of the principal contributors in the run chase. The southpaw scored 56 off just 30 balls, including eight fours and two sixes. He batted at a strike rate of 186.66, which helped his team stay ahead of the asking rate.

He stitched a 64-run stand with David Miller for the fifth wicket, and it laid the foundation of Delhi's chase. Miller scored 51 off 28 deliveries, including three fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 182.14.

Axar Patel opens up on why he didn't bowl against Punjab Kings

Axar Patel also explained why he didn't bowl himself against Punjab Kings and entrusted the responsibility of limiting the opposition to his five pacers, including the youngster Madhav Tiwari.

Tiwari was the pick of the five seamers used by Delhi. The 22-year-old returned figures of 2/40 in his four overs at an economy of 10 per over. Mitchell Starc also bagged two wickets. However, he registered his most expensive spell in the IPL, conceding 57 runs in four overs.

"The pressure moments, we have been losing. Have been saying our team is good and that we have been playing good cricket too, but we are here (because of losing those crucial moments). Very happy with how the team played, and hopefully we can do the same in the next two games. In the bowling, first 3-4 overs, they had 60 runs but to finish with only 72 in the powerplay, that was a winning moment," Axar said at the post-match presentation.

"Then, Mukesh and Madhav bowling in the middle, and after that, my partnership with Miller, with the youngsters then finishing off the game. (On not bowling) The way the wicket was, when Nabi was bowling in the fourth over, it was swinging and seaming. In the first few overs, we did not bowl in the right areas. After the powerplay as well, it was moving around, so I thought there was no need to bowl spin since I had five pacers. 

"(On his batting) Today, it clicked. Earlier as well, I used to come out with same intent. I got a chance today. Luck changed a little, and I was trusting my process, and the runs came. The cricket we are playing and the players we have, the future is strong. The runs Sahil also made, I had said before as well, he could be a good player in the future. A captain is very happy when he has youngsters like this, and as you said, the Delhi Capitals can do anything," added Axar.