Delhi Capitals (DC) suffered a major setback in Delhi, collapsing to 75 and handing Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) a heavy win, but former DC spinner Piyush Chawla urged the franchise not to hit the panic button. Speaking soon after the defeat, Chawla stressed that while worries are understandable given DC’s past, the focus now should be on regrouping rather than spiralling into negativity.
“There will be some panic around for sure, knowing the history of Delhi Capitals. But that’s not the right time [for it] now,” Chawla said on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show. He added that the team needs to come together, talk through what went wrong, and reset quickly—pointing out that the tournament situation has not changed so drastically within a matter of weeks that the side’s overall approach should be thrown out. “They need to sit together, discuss about it, and they have to start fresh,” he said, noting that DC had started the competition strongly and that the fundamentals of their cricketing plan should remain intact.
Two days after posting their highest total in the IPL, DC delivered a stark reversal when they were dismissed for their third-lowest score against RCB at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The campaign had begun with back-to-back wins, but momentum faded as the side managed just one victory in their following six matches. Chawla also highlighted how costly moments in the field can swing T20 contests, with dropped catches at crucial stages proving damaging. On Saturday, Karun Nair’s missed opportunities became a talking point after he dropped Shreyas Iyer twice as Punjab Kings (PBKS) went on to complete the highest successful chase.
Looking ahead to how the season will be judged, Chawla warned that small margins can loom large later. “Later, in the business end of the tournament, when they look back at it, those two points will definitely come to haunt them if they are not qualifying [for the playoffs],” he said. His message was clear: the present demands a mental reset, positive intent on the field, and an environment in the dressing room that helps players stay connected through tough spells.
Chawla also offered a candid view of what teams often do when results don’t go their way. “When things are not going your way, it’s very, very easy for any team to just scatter and just talk behind the back that this guy would have done this, this guy would have done that, he would have taken that single, this guy would have taken that catch.” In his view, that kind of internal noise only increases pressure and makes it harder to execute in high-stakes phases of the match.
He then drew a comparison with DC’s previous season. In that campaign, DC began with four straight wins but went on to win only three of their next ten games. They ultimately ended in fifth place, missing the playoffs, despite having last booked a spot in 2021. “The most difficult thing [for DC] is to just come together, sit together, and talk about it, and just say, ‘Okay, now that is gone’. These things are not in our control, and still we are in it,” Chawla said.
While acknowledging that DC have been in this situation before, Chawla insisted the team must change the narrative. “We are not out of the tournament, and we are the same team who has done well in the past,” he said, pointing to how DC have been capable of winning four or five matches in a row. “But this year we have to change the history, and just go out there, express yourself, and play with positive intent.”
Chawla underlined that the solution is not about a lack of talent. “That’s all you can say because it’s not about the skill level here right now because everyone is very skillful – that’s why they are playing here,” he explained. “It’s just about being positive and the leader needs to take that initiative, and make sure everyone is held together.”
DC’s next assignment is against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Jaipur on May 1.
