Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel carried a mix of admissions and reflection into the post-match presentation after his side’s defeat to Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday. In his assessment, he acknowledged DC were below their best in the Indian Premier League 2026 meeting, falling short by a narrow margin with the bat and failing to convert on a surface that offered some grip and unpredictability.
Quick facts
- Match: Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings (Tuesday) in IPL 2026
- Result: CSK won by eight wickets
- Axar’s key admission: DC were about 10–15 runs short with the bat
- Chase highlight: Sanju Samson made an unbeaten 87 for CSK
- Axar’s note on bowling: he said he missed partner Kuldeep Yadav
- Kuldeep’s figures: 3 overs for 34 runs
- DC batting positives: Sameer Rizvi 40* and Tristan Stubbs 38
- Next fixture: DC host Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday
Axar pointed to the nature of the pitch as the central factor in DC’s batting shortfall. He felt that with the ball moving and the wicket behaving differently across overs, the team couldn’t squeeze out the extra runs required—particularly given they were effectively batting with fewer recognised batters in the lineup.
“Obviously, the way the wicket was playing in the first innings, I felt that yes, 155 was a good score. But since we were playing with eight batters, I felt we were about 10–15 runs short,” Axar said after the chase ended, with CSK completing the job thanks to Samson’s unbeaten 87.
Axar also explained how the same conditions that punish new arrivals can become more manageable once a batter is set. He suggested that batters who found rhythm appeared to have a clearer read of the pitch, while those arriving at the crease had to contend with deliveries that held up and behaved awkwardly.
Reflecting on the surface, Axar said the pitch eased for set batters but stayed difficult for newcomers. “I feel it got a little better, but I think the difference was made by the set batter. When a batter is well set, it feels like there is nothing in the pitch, but I still feel there was something in it,” he added.
He went on to detail what made the entry phase so challenging: “For a new batter coming in, it was not easy. Yes, it wasn’t easy for new players because, you know, the length balls were holding up, sometimes staying low, and occasionally even bouncing after holding. So I feel it was very difficult for new batters. But when set batters were playing, it looked easier. You could see the way Sanju took the game forward.”
Positives despite the collapse
While DC’s innings struggled for consistency—helped by a top-five collapse—Axar still highlighted contributions that kept them within reach. He singled out Sameer Rizvi’s 40 not out and Tristan Stubbs’ 38 as bright spots, even though the rest of the batting group couldn’t build sustained partnerships.
On the bowling front, Axar did not frame his comments as criticism of Kuldeep Yadav, but he made it clear how he felt about the lack of impact. Kuldeep, who has not enjoyed the most productive IPL 2026 run so far, looked off the pace in this match as he delivered 3 overs for 34 runs.
“Yes, obviously, considering our batting, I think that’s a positive. Even after losing five wickets, the way we finished at the end was good. So yes, that is a positive. But I feel in bowling, I missed my partner Kuldeep (lethaleness),” Axar said.
With the playoff race tightening, Axar underlined the urgency of results and the need to execute without hesitation. DC now turn their attention to another home game, taking on Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday, and he stressed the importance of clarity in mindset from the first ball.
“Yes, obviously, we cannot afford any mistakes now. So we have to go in with a clear mindset that whatever time or chances we get, we must win,” Axar concluded.
