Mohammad Kaif has taken Axar Patel to task after the Delhi Capitals spinner publicly pointed out the struggles of teammate Kuldeep Yadav during Delhi’s testing IPL 2026 run. Even though the franchise kept its slim playoff chances alive with a dramatic three-wicket victory over Punjab Kings in Dharamsala on Monday, the pressure around their spin unit—especially Axar and Kuldeep—has not eased.
Kaif’s criticism follows Axar’s earlier remarks after a defeat to Chennai Super Kings, when Axar had spoken openly about Kuldeep’s form. The former batter believes that experienced leaders should avoid singling out individuals in public, regardless of how difficult a season is.
Quick facts
- Mohammad Kaif criticised Axar Patel for publicly pointing at Kuldeep Yadav during Delhi Capitals’ IPL 2026 campaign.
- Delhi Capitals beat Punjab Kings by 3 wickets in Dharamsala on Monday.
- Delhi have lost 7 of their 12 matches this season, leaving them under pressure in the playoff race.
- Axar’s comments came after Delhi’s earlier defeat to Chennai Super Kings, where he spoke about Kuldeep’s struggles.
- Kaif said a mature captain should not publicly name a player or blame him openly.
- Kaif argued Kuldeep has been a reliable performer for Delhi and India across formats, despite a quieter IPL season.
- In the Punjab Kings chase, Axar scored 56 off 30 balls, and partnered with David Miller to steer the chase.
- Axar said Delhi had played good cricket but failed to win key moments earlier in the season, and he praised the squad’s youngsters.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif argued that captains should protect team unity and handle issues internally. He said a “mature” captain does not publicly name players or allow them to be singled out, even when form dips.
Kaif acknowledged that Kuldeep has endured a tough spell this season, noting that the left-armer has not delivered his best bowling and has not taken many wickets. However, he stressed that poor individual outings should be addressed at the team level rather than through public criticism.
“I can understand that Kuldeep has gone through a tough phase this season—he has not bowled that well and hasn’t picked up many wickets,” Kaif said. “But ever since he joined Delhi, he has been a proven bowler.”
The former India batter also defended Kuldeep’s overall value, pointing to his track record beyond IPL. Kaif said Kuldeep’s contributions for both Delhi and the national side have been consistent across ODIs and T20Is, even if the current IPL campaign has been quieter for him.
“Forget just the IPL; even if you talk about India in ODIs or T20Is over the years, he has consistently performed,” Kaif added. “Yes, this season has been a bit quiet for him and his bowling has not been at its best. But you should never take a player’s name publicly. Instead, you should simply say that things did not go well as a team.”
Axar’s innings turns the tide
While the debate around Delhi’s spin department continues, Axar delivered when the game demanded it during the chase against Punjab Kings. After Delhi slid to 33/3 while chasing 211, Axar struck a quick 56 off 30 balls to shift momentum and keep the run chase alive.
His innings was backed by a critical partnership with David Miller, which helped Delhi complete the turnaround and secure the three-wicket win in Dharamsala. The victory kept their playoff hopes alive, but the wider concern remains that results have not consistently gone their way—Delhi have already lost seven of 12 matches.
After the match, Axar praised the mindset shown by his side and suggested the team’s process has been stronger than the results imply. He said Delhi have been playing good cricket, but have fallen short in the moments that decide close games.
“I have been saying that we are a good team, playing good cricket but not winning the crucial moments,” Axar said after the win. “I am really happy with how we played and hopefully we continue playing like this.”
Axar also highlighted the impact of younger players in the squad, linking it to Delhi’s depth and the kind of cricket they are trying to build. He added that youngsters stepping up in high-pressure situations is an encouraging sign for what comes next.
“Given the type of cricket we are playing and the bench strength we have, the future is in good hands. Youngsters standing up in such situations is a good sign,” Axar said.
