Axar Patel Tristan Stubbs & Ashutosh Shoot in front of Sharma?

There is no Faf du Plessis in the side for now, and Jake Fraser McGurk was finally dropped from the DC playing XI, on Saturday, against GT. But one thing that’s hard to fathom is, skipper Axar Patel batting at No. 4. In the other matches of season, he has been a regular at No. 5. While he might just be taking the added responsibility, but it doesn’t quite make most sense, given there is Tristan Stubbs and Ashutosh Sharma batting below him, usually.

In the GT match, DC ended with a first innings score of 203, perhaps 15-20 runs short, and Axar’s batting position is something, that the captain himself and the management need to discuss. He scored 39 from 32 in the middle overs, where the run-rate dropped considerably. Yes, DC is winning well in IPL 2025, are at the top of the points table with five wins in six matches, but overall, this ploy could backfire any time.

Although a good batter, he could be more suited below dedicated batters like Stubbs and Ashutosh, who can hit the ball a big mile. Prior to the GT match, Axar had batter at no. 4 in five innings, where he had scored 72 runs at an average of 14 and a strike-rate of 120. At No. 5, where he has batted mostly in this season, he has returned with scores of 9, 15, and 22. This year in 7 matches, he has 140 runs, at an average of 23, and a best score of 39.

So, what is the real logic behind this move? Ashutosh Sharma showed with his blazing 37 from 19 that he deserves to be promoted in the batting order. In 7 matches, the MP player has 136 runs to his name, at an average of over 66, and a strike-rate of 184. That also includes a 29-ball 66 against LSG in a winning cause.

On the other hand, Stubbs has 183 runs in the seven matches he has played. He averages 61 and strike-rate is also 160. That makes it pretty clear, if DC want to continue their winning ways, and be even more threatening in their batting, Axar needs to bat lower in the order.