Nothing has been going right for the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026. A defeat to the Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday night pushed the Axar Patel-led side further towards elimination from the playoffs race, leaving the franchise with just three remaining matches to salvage whatever it can and play with pride.
Delhi’s season in crisis
With the tournament already taking a toll on Delhi’s campaign, questions have grown louder about the decisions made by the management. The season has been marked by tactics and calls that many fans have found difficult to justify, and one of the most discussed issues has been why a player of David Miller’s calibre has been kept on the bench for long stretches.
Still, the dominant talking point remains Prithvi Shaw’s absence from the playing XI. The Under-19 World Cup-winning captain has not received a single opportunity in IPL 2026 so far.
Why Prithvi Shaw’s exclusion has drawn criticism
Delhi have often opened with Pathum Nissanka alongside KL Rahul. Even in the lone game where the Sri Lankan batter was not retained in the lineup, the management opted to bring in Sahil Parakh instead of giving Shaw a chance.
Former India spinner Murali Kartik reacted sharply to the pattern, saying he could not understand the logic behind keeping Shaw out despite his proven ability and skill set.
- Kartik questioned why Delhi would select Shaw and then consistently overlook him, suggesting the franchise has not examined what he brings to the top order.
- He pointed out that Shaw was acquired with intent after being picked in the auction, yet has been kept out of matches.
- He also argued that if a team has a “gun opener,” the player should be involved rather than being left out while others get chances.
Speaking on Cricbuzz, Kartik said: “If you have Prithvi Shaw, alright—he was in the wilderness in the last two years. You brought him back; you picked him in the auction on the basis of some logic. You have not looked at him. If you pick him at the top, it opens up options for you.” He added, “You have got a gun opener. He’s there for a reason. You are looking at everybody except Prithvi Shaw.”
Shaw’s IPL journey and the match that intensified the debate
Shaw had gone unsold in the IPL auction ahead of the 2025 season. However, Delhi later secured him for the 2026 edition for his base price of INR 75 lakh. While the franchise has shared multiple training videos featuring him, no clear explanation has emerged from within the camp for why he has not been getting game time.
The latest defeat to KKR only sharpened the scrutiny. In the match between Delhi and Kolkata, Delhi batted first and finished on 142/8 in their twenty overs.
- Pathum Nissanka top-scored with a half-century.
- At one point, Delhi looked set to push beyond 180.
- Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy and Anukul Roy tightened the contest during the middle overs.
- As a result, Delhi were limited to below 145.
Kolkata then chased the target with eight wickets to spare and 34 balls remaining. Finn Allen struck his maiden IPL century, steering KKR home in style.
- Finn Allen scored 100 and remained the anchor of the chase.
- Cameron Green finished unbeaten on 33.
- KKR completed the run chase with 34 balls still left in the innings.
With Delhi sliding further out of contention, the franchise now faces a tight finish—three matches in which the focus will inevitably return to selection decisions, and whether Shaw’s long wait for an IPL appearance in 2026 will ever end.
