Why is Axar Patel not playing IPL 2025 game versus Mumbai Indians?

Delhi Capitals (DC) are without the services of their skipper Axar Patel as Faf du Plessis came out for the toss as the captain. DC are taking on the Mumbai Indians in a key IPL 2025 game at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday night.

Ravi Shastri asked du Plessis why Axar wasn’t playing, to which the former South African skipper said, “Really sick in the last two days. We'll miss him today.”

It was Delhi Capitals who won the toss and chose to bowl first on what looks like a good wicket. If DC wins the game, they will move to the fourth spot, overhauling MI ahead of their game against Punjab Kings. A loss for DC, though, will knock them out of the tournament with one more game left to play. 

For Mumbai there was just one change as New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner made his way into the team for Corbin Bosch. The South African all-rounder is set to leave the tournament at the end of the league phase campaign. Bosch and Ryan Rickelton are part of the South African squad for the WTC finals against Australia. 

Do-or-Die game for Delhi Capitals against Mumbai Indians

Considering what is at stake for DC, Axar Patel missing the game will be a huge loss for the visiting side. Faf du Plessis had already mentioned at the toss that the 31-year-old is a multi-dimensional player. In the last few years, Patel has not only done well with the ball but also been in great touch with the bat. 

Delhi Capitals will also remember that Mumbai was the side that halted their winning run in the tournament early in the season. DC had won four games on the trot before losing to Hardik Pandya’s side at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. This turn was the much-needed break for MI, who then went on a winning run of six successive games without a loss. 

Other changes for DC saw T Natarajan miss out while Mukesh Kumar was given a chance to play. Axar was replaced by Madhav Tiwari, who had made his debut in the game against Punjab Kings before the league was suspended. Since that game was officially erased from the record books, the youngster is finally making his IPL debut.