Krunal Pandya is earning praise for his sportsmanship after helping injured DC skipper Axar Patel off the field during an RCB vs DC match in the IPL 2026.
Delhi Capitals suffered a setback as captain Axar Patel retired hurt during IPL 2026 Match 26 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 18 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Axar scored 26 off 19 balls and led the chase in a crucial phase.
He showed good rhythm early, hitting 2 fours and rotating strike well. Trouble began in the 14th over when he showed signs of discomfort. The physio entered the field as play paused briefly. Axar resumed batting but struggled to move. The cramps worsened, forcing him to stop midway. He decided to leave the field as the chase reached its final stage.
READ ALSO | Sanju Samson Calls Terrific DRS To Send Back Abhishek Sharma Early In SRH vs CSK Clash
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Krunal Pandya stepped in to help Axar Patel walk, along with Ashutosh Sharma. This gesture by Krunal has since then gone viral, with fans noticing his strong sportsmanship.
Watch the video here:
After Axar patel's injury Krunal pandya ran towards him to give him support
— ` (@McgMadMan) April 18, 2026
A great gesture from Krunal Pandya💖 pic.twitter.com/5kdieruiFf
Axar Patel is Retired Hurt
— cricmawa (@cricmawa) April 18, 2026
Krunal Pandya❤️👏🫂 pic.twitter.com/Ku9v90IFdk
In the match, Delhi Capitals secured a tense win with 1 ball remaining in IPL 2026. They defeated the Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 6 wickets in a close finish. Tristan Stubbs led the chase with a solid half-century. David Miller added 22 off 10 balls, including 2 sixes and 1 boundary in the final over.
KL Rahul earlier contributed with a key half-century to keep the chase steady. He built an important partnership with the top order.
Notably, Axar Patel’s injury does not appear serious. He is expected to captain the side in the next match.
This article follows WicketWatcher’s editorial standards. Learn more in our Editorial Policy or report an issue via our Corrections Policy.