Delhi Capitals head coach Hemang Badani found himself answering pointed questions after his side fell to Chennai Super Kings in an IPL 2026 encounter on Tuesday. The defeat came on the back of a damaging top-order collapse, and it also left DC’s bowling group—especially their spinners—struggling to make full use of conditions that offered noticeable grip. At the post-match press conference, Badani fielded queries about individual form, team strategy, and the pitch itself, while also spelling out the standard the franchise expects for the rest of the campaign.
Badani addresses Kuldeep Yadav’s recent form
One of the main topics was Kuldeep Yadav’s effectiveness with the ball. Badani acknowledged that the left-arm wrist-spinner needs to improve, even as he insisted the coaching staff and the wider group still believe in him.
- Kuldeep bowled three overs versus CSK, conceding 34 runs and failing to take a wicket.
- When asked about the slump, Badani said the expectation is that Kuldeep should produce better returns, but believes the issue is tied to finding his best rhythm rather than anything beyond repair.
- Badani added that Kuldeep has not reached his peak form and has not been delivering at the speeds he typically generates, calling it a matter of time.
- The head coach stated that DC will stand by Kuldeep, noting he has been part of the squad for many years and that the franchise has faith he will turn things around.
Why DC say they can’t control the pitch
Badani was also pressed on whether DC’s choice to bat first on a difficult Arun Jaitley Stadium surface misfired. He responded by explaining that the franchise has limited influence over the prepared wicket, even though the match took place at their home venue.
- Badani said DC do not have control over the surfaces the curator prepares.
- He argued that it is far easier for a team to prepare its approach once it sees how the wicket behaves while batting second, which is essentially what happened in this match.
- Badani felt the contest was effectively decided in the opening 10 overs because DC did not get enough early momentum, arriving at roughly 70 for 5.
- He stressed that being 70 for 5 is not a desirable situation, even on a challenging pitch.
- Badani pointed to the “up-and-down” nature of conditions in Delhi, saying one game has produced a 265 total, yet there is still little say for any side over what the wicket turns out to be.
Support for Axar Patel after another tough outing
While Kuldeep’s numbers have drawn scrutiny, Badani also spoke about the concerns surrounding captain Axar Patel—particularly his batting. After another frustrating performance against CSK, the head coach reiterated that Axar remains backed by the team.
- Badani said the side does not want to find itself in positions such as 60 for 5 or 50 for 5.
- He added that when a team slips into that kind of predicament, the only practical response is to bring in an additional batter to stabilize the innings.
- Regarding Axar specifically, Badani said it is not about singling out one individual, but about trusting someone who has played at the highest level and is a double World Cup winner.
- He concluded that the solution is broader than one player, insisting the team must improve as a unit and “play better cricket.”
Season objective: win all remaining matches
Badani wrapped up by outlining a clear requirement for DC going forward. With the tournament still open but the margin for error narrowing, he set the expectation that the franchise must win all four of its remaining matches to stay in the hunt.
