Aaron Finch Baffled by Delhi’s Spin Plan as Axar and Kuldeep Bowl Only Four Overs
Aaron Finch said Delhi Capitals’ decision to give Nitish Rana four overs while Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav bowled four between them made no sense.
By SportCricket Desk · 22 Apr 2026 · 2 min read
Former Australia captain Aaron Finch has criticised Delhi Capitals for the way they used their spinners in the defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad, and questioned skipper Axar Patel’s approach.
An unusual bowling plan
Rather than lean on their two main spinners, Axar and Kuldeep Yadav, Delhi gave a large share of the overs to part-timer Nitish Rana. Axar and Kuldeep sent down just four overs between them, while Rana, an off-spinner, bowled four by himself.
Speaking on ESPNcricinfo, Finch said everyone had been scratching their heads over it. He called it nonsensical that the two premier Indian spinners bowled so little.
The left-hander factor
Delhi seemed to avoid using Axar and Kuldeep against the left-handers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, perhaps because both usually turn the ball into the left-hander. Finch was not persuaded. He said that if Axar did not trust himself to execute under pressure and defend against left-handers, it said more about his attitude than anything else.
The match
Abhishek Sharma took advantage with an unbeaten 135 off 68 balls, taking Sunrisers to 242 for 2. Delhi fell short in the chase and lost by 47 runs.
