NEW DELHI: Former India spinner Murali Kartik believes Delhi Capitals are still wrestling with the psychological fallout of a crushing one-run loss to Gujarat Titans earlier this IPL season. In Kartik’s view, the defeat didn’t just cost DC two points—it disrupted the flow of their entire campaign, leaving lasting mental damage that the side has struggled to shake off. Ahead of Delhi’s high-stakes match against Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday, the spinner argued that the Axar Patel-led group has never truly moved on from that dramatic finish at Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Kartik pointed to the timing and impact of that result. “DC, last year had started really strongly with four or five wins, and even this year they began with their first two victories. When you look at the squad, it doesn’t seem like there’s nothing there,” he said. “But that one-run loss against GT—the two points they lost—has become a mental scar for them. I don’t think they’ve recovered from it yet.”
Delhi had looked primed for another strong run after getting off to a positive start in IPL 2026, winning their opening pair of matches. However, the setback against Gujarat Titans altered their trajectory completely. The loss swung on a tense end to the chase, with David Miller shown turning down a single “controversially” before a run-out on the final ball sealed the outcome. For Kartik, that kind of finish often lingers, and he believes it has continued to haunt Delhi’s performances since.
Since that heartbreaking defeat, Delhi have managed only two wins from their next eight matches. Their season has been marked by sharp reversals of fortune—capable of threatening totals but also prone to collapse at critical moments. Kartik highlighted the swing in Delhi’s results, noting how they have had outings that looked promising before falling apart. “They then lost after scoring 264, and then they’re bowled out for 75. At one stage they were 13 for 6, so they ended up taking a totally different route altogether,” he added.
With the team sitting seventh in the standings, having collected eight points from 10 matches, Delhi face a demanding path forward. To keep their playoff chances realistic, they would need to win all four of their remaining games, turning every fixture into a must-win.
Alongside the mental aspect, Kartik also suggested that Delhi’s struggles have shown up clearly in both departments. At home, their batting has repeatedly fallen short on tougher pitches where quality spin has been available, and their batters have not been able to consistently convert starts into defendable totals. On the bowling side, the Capitals have also leaked runs at regular intervals, making it difficult to apply pressure during the middle overs and beyond.
While Delhi attempt to arrest their slide, Kolkata Knight Riders arrive with momentum. KKR head into the contest buoyed by a three-match winning streak, including a victory over table-toppers Sunrisers Hyderabad. Kartik said he is not certain whether the matchup tips heavily toward one side on paper, but believes the visitors are entering the game in a better mindset. “I don’t know whether KKR are favourites for this match or not, but they will come into the match in a good space,” he said.
He also reflected on how the narrative around KKR has shifted over time. “There was a time when there was so much criticism against them. Players, captain, and everyone were being dragged,” Kartik remarked. Even if KKR’s playoff hopes are still slim, he believes the former champions have at least regained confidence heading into the business end of the tournament—an advantage that could matter when pressure rises and margins shrink.
