Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel admitted that the team’s IPL 2026 campaign is now hanging by a thread after another disappointing outing in the tournament. DC slumped to their fifth defeat at home and seventh overall this season following Friday’s (May 8) loss to Kolkata Knight Riders. The defeat left Delhi stranded in eighth place on the points table with only eight points from 11 matches, having managed just four wins so far. Even though KKR have also struggled this season, the Capitals once again failed to deliver in key moments.
‘Preparing for Next Year’
Reflecting on the poor run, Axar said the franchise may now start looking beyond the current season and consider giving opportunities to players waiting on the sidelines. The skipper hinted that testing bench strength could help the team build a stronger combination for next year after a campaign in which very little has gone right for Delhi.
Axar on back-to-back loss
Reacting to the defeat against the Kolkata Knight Riders, Axar Patel felt the Delhi Capitals fell behind in the game after failing to put enough runs on the board and then losing control during crucial phases. He pointed out that the spinners leaked too many runs through aggressive shots, while the batting unit lost momentum after a sudden collapse in the middle overs. According to Axar, the team needed a brief rebuilding phase after losing wickets in quick succession but could not recover in time.
Axar as a Captain
Delhi’s season began on a promising note with strong results early on. They won three of their opening five matches and looked set to build momentum. However, the campaign quickly went downhill after that phase. In the following six games, DC managed just one victory while suffering five defeats, a run that severely damaged their playoff hopes.
Batsmen struggled throughout the season
The batting line-up has struggled for consistency throughout the tournament, with KL Rahul being one of the few reliable performers at the top. The bowling department, expected to be one of the team’s strengths, has also failed to deliver regularly, including experienced wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who has not been able to make the desired impact this season.
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