The Axar Patel Influence: When Was The Last Time An IPL Innings Happened Without Spin?

David Warner Virat Kohli. [Source - AFP]

In a highly unusual T20 move, Delhi Capitals bowled their full 20 overs against Punjab Kings using only pace bowlers. Not a single over was handed to a spinner by captain Axar Patel, highlighting a bold and unconventional tactical approach in IPL 2026.

Fans and analysts were left stunned after Punjab Kings’ innings concluded without a single over of spin. The question on everyone’s mind: “When was the last time an IPL innings happened without spin?”, underlining the rarity of Delhi Capitals’ approach.

SRH Was the Last Team to Complete an Entire IPL Innings Without a Spinner

Delhi Capitals didn’t bowl a single over of spin after electing to bowl first against Punjab Kings in Match 55 of IPL 2026 in Dharamsala. Relying solely on pace, the captain Axar Patel and the Capitals surprised fans with this bold and highly unconventional strategy.

Mitchell Starc, Auqib Nabi, Mukesh Kumar, Lungi Ngidi, and Madhav Tiwari, all pacers bowled for Delhi Capitals and successfully restricted Punjab Kings to 210 for 5, completing all 20 overs without giving spinners a single chance.

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Historically, this is the 12th instance of a team bowling 20 overs of pace in an IPL innings with the last team to complete an entire IPL innings without a spinner was Sunrisers Hyderabad back in 2016.

Ten years ago, in a 2016 IPL league-stage game against RCB in Hyderabad, SRH captain David Warner used Ashish Nehra, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mustafizur Rahman, Barinder Sran, and Moises Henriques, all five pacers, successfully defending a target of 195 runs.

SRH’s all-pacers strategy worked perfectly in that game, winning by 15 runs. Delhi Capitals’ similar move drew attention among fans and pundits. While it did not feature spin, the approach showed clear faith in their fast-bowling unit.

Why Axar Patel Didn’t Bowl a Single Over of Spin Against Punjab Kings

Delhi Capitals completed their full 20-over innings against Punjab Kings in Dharamshala using only pacers, with not a single spin over bowled. This was the 5th time Delhi Capitals bowled all pacers in an IPL innings and the 3rd such instance against Punjab Kings.

So, why captain Axar Patel, being a spinner himself, did not bowled a single over of spin against Punjab Kings?

One possible reason is Delhi Capitals’ poor numbers as a spin-bowling unit. In IPL 2026, their spin attack has a bowling average of 39.78, second-worst only to LSG. The last five games were worse, averaging 51.42 with an economy of 10.28.

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Another key factor was Punjab Kings’ destructive batting against spin. The team has been the most aggressive against spinners in IPL 2026, scoring 10.59 runs per over, the highest in the tournament. 

Delhi Capitals deliberately avoided spin, leaving out their lead spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who had taken only two wickets in his last five games. This bold decision highlighted the team’s faith in their pace attack and marked a rare, unconventional approach in T20 cricket.

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