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New Delhi: Skipper Axar Patel attributed Delhi Capitals' dramatic batting collapse against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League to a mix of "hesitation" stemming from their previous outing and plain "bad luck".

After being blown away in a span of a few frenetic overs, Axar pointed out that the rapid loss of wickets left no batter with the time to settle, turning the contest decisively in RCB’s favour.

"I think because of what happened in the last game… there was some hesitation. Other than that, I think it was bad luck. No batter could really settle… we lost wickets in one or two balls," Axar said, underlining how the collapse was more circumstantial than structural.

DC had posted a commanding 264 against Punjab Kings but could not defend the total in their previous outing.

After DC were left to reel at an unthinkable six for eight, the match against RCB on Monday night, April 27, was as good as over.

The left-arm all-rounder suggested that the psychological residue of failing to defend in the previous match may have subconsciously impacted the batting approach.

Axar also highlighted how the nature of the pitch evolved quickly, catching the batters off guard.

While there was appreciable movement early on, the conditions eased out once the new ball lost its sting.

"In the first over there was swing, later, once the ball got hit for a boundary, the swing reduced. But when you score 60–70, bowlers come in with that in the back of their mind,” he said, admitting that the low total inevitably affected the bowlers’ mindset despite their efforts.

He refused to fault the bowling unit, instead placing the onus squarely on the batting unit’s failure to adapt.

"The way we batted today, I would call it bad luck." Despite the heavy defeat, Axar maintained that pressure is an inherent part of the tournament’s business end and not something the team can shy away from.

The captain also confirmed that Australian pacer Mitchell Starc has joined the squad and will be available for selection after May 1, subject to workload management.

On the decision to hand a debut to youngster Sahil Parakh, Axar said it was driven by the need for a left-right opening combination and the player’s impressive performances in training.

Parakh's middle stump was uprooted by Bhuvneswar with an in-dipping yorker in the second ball of the DC innings.

"It was his first match. I cannot judge him on that. The way he has been batting, we believe he has potential," he said.

Axar also conceded that the batters may have misread conditions, carrying forward expectations from a previous game played on a similar-looking surface.

"Two days ago the wicket looked similar… but today, with the wind and day-night conditions, there was more swing. Early wickets put pressure. As professionals, we should be ready for that," he admitted.

Looking ahead, the DC skipper ruled out wholesale changes, insisting that a solitary poor performance should not trigger a knee-jerk reaction.

"This might be the first time in several matches that we have played bad cricket. Changing the team will not guarantee results. It is more about mindset, staying mentally strong and sticking together," he said.

Signing off with a message to supporters, Axar urged fans to stand by the team during a difficult phase.

"It should not be that you support only when we win… whether we win or lose, support should remain the same."

No demons in pitch, just RCB’s brilliance: Krunal on DC Collapse

Reflecting on the comprehensive nine-wicket win, which will be remembered for an incredible capitulation of Delhi, RCB's Krunal Pandya underlined that there were no demons in the wicket but just that pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood were exceptional.

"To get six wickets in the powerplay, you have literally taken the game away from the opponent. The wicket wasn't that bad, but it was pure skill set and why they are among the best," Krunal said.

Krunal also shed light on his own evolution as a bowler, revealing that the introduction of variations like the bouncer and altered trajectory deliveries was a conscious attempt to outthink batters in a format increasingly dominated by power-hitting.

"Every year the opposition prepares for you, so it becomes a mental game as well. I was thinking what I can add to be one step ahead. That's where the bouncer and change in trajectory came in," he explained.

The left-arm spinner acknowledged that executing such variations is physically demanding, particularly for a spinner.

"It's not easy for a spinner to bowl a bouncer. A lot depends on fitness. But I've never been scared to try new things. I took it as a challenge," he said.

Touching upon his cricketing roots, Krunal revealed that the seeds of his experimental approach were sown years ago while playing on matting wickets, where he was forced to innovate after being taken apart by batters.

"That's where I learnt things like bouncers and wide yorkers. Over time, roles change, but this year I felt the need to add something new, especially with how aggressively batters are playing," he said.

Despite the dominant performance, Krunal struck a cautious note on RCB's campaign, insisting that the team is not looking too far ahead in the tournament. As of now they are placed second in the table with 12 points from six wins in eight matches.

Along with Punjab Kings, RCB are favourites from here to claim top-two spot in the race to play-offs.

The 33-year-old lauded Virat Kohli for his sustained excellence, calling him a flag bearer of fitness culture in Indian cricket.

"To have that consistency for so many years is unbelievable. He has changed the way people see fitness in the sport," Krunal added.