Axar Patel Dedicates Delhi Capitals’ Historic Chase Win to Fallen Fans

Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel paid a heartfelt tribute to two young fans following his side’s commanding seven-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur. Speaking at the post-match presentation, Axar dedicated the win to Yagya Bhatia (20) and Abhav Bhatia (14), cousins who lost their lives in a tragic hit-and-run accident in central Delhi after attending DC’s previous home fixture.

The Tragic Incident

The two cousins, both residents of Ashok Nagar and proud members of the ‘DC Toli’ fan group, were riding home from the Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru match when a truck struck them near Mahadev Road and fled the scene. Both were rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, where they were declared brought dead.

“I want to express my deepest condolences for their loss. I would like to dedicate this victory to them — they were two members of our DC family,” said an emotional Axar after the match.

A Record-Breaking Chase

Delhi Capitals produced a stunning performance on the field to back those words. Chasing 226, they reached the target with five balls to spare — the highest successful run chase in the franchise’s IPL history. KL Rahul anchored the innings with 75 off 40 balls while Pathum Nissanka blazed 62 off 33, the pair putting on a 110-run opening stand inside ten overs. Nitish Rana and Ashutosh Sharma then finished the job efficiently.

The victory ended a painful three-match losing streak and gave the entire DC camp reason to celebrate, even as they mourned two of their most passionate supporters.