Axar Patel Wins Toss, DC Opt to Bat vs PBKS in IPL 2026

Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel won the toss and elected to bat first against table-toppers Punjab Kings in their IPL 2026 encounter at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Saturday. DC, currently placed sixth on the points table, have been struggling with consistency, and Axar acknowledged at the toss that the team has been committing avoidable errors in crucial moments.

Toss Update and Team Strategy

Both sides fielded unchanged XIs from their previous matches. Punjab Kings, who sit atop the table with five wins from six outings, retained their winning combination. Axar Patel explained his decision to bat first, citing the dry pitch and the heat during the day game. He noted that the surface might slow down later, offering assistance to bowlers, so the aim is to set a competitive total and then defend it.

"We will bat first. It looks a bit dry and obviously it’s a day game, and you know it’s quite hot as well. So we’re thinking of putting up a good total first and then trying to defend it. From the looks of it, it seems like it will slow down a bit later, and the bowlers might get some help as well. So we want to post a good total first and give the bowlers a chance to make use of any assistance from the wicket. We want to focus on ourselves," Axar said.

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Axar on DC's Recent Form

The Delhi Capitals skipper admitted that the team has been playing good cricket but has faltered in crucial moments. He emphasized the need to correct silly mistakes on the field and in decision-making to get back on track. "Every team we are playing is playing good cricket. We have also been playing good cricket, but the thing is that in crucial moments, I think we are not winning those moments in the game. We are making silly mistakes, and if we correct those, I think we will be back on track. If consistency comes in, and if we fix the small mistakes we are making in the field or in taking decisions at crucial times, then I think we will be on the winning side most of the time. We are playing the same team," he added.

Shreyas Iyer's Perspective

Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer, who also named an unchanged XI, emphasized staying in the moment and building the right habits in the dressing room. He revealed that he had a brief discussion with Axar before the toss and was pleased that his counterpart chose to bat, making the toss inconsequential. "It's important to stay in the moment, that's how you want the environment to be. I personally feel you just have to keep training harder and keep getting better every now and then, better than the previous performance. We need to inculcate right habits in the dressing room and culture that we've been building so far. And it has been, touch wood, going great. We just have to keep enjoying the game and have fun along with each other. I would love to bowl. And thankfully, I had a small discussion with Axar before the toss. He said that he's going to bat, so I was happy that we are going to bowl and the toss was inconsequential. We are going with the same team," Iyer said.