Kris Srikkanth, former India captain and chairman of selectors, launched a sharp attack on Delhi Capitals head coach Hemang Badani after the franchise suffered a nine-wicket defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2026 at Arun Jaitley Stadium. Axar Patel’s team were bowled out for 75—the lowest team total of the season so far—before RCB completed the chase inside seven overs with nine wickets to spare. Coming just days after Delhi allowed Punjab Kings to post the highest-ever chase in T20 cricket (265), the Capitals’ batting collapse delivered a stark contrast, and Srikkanth used the occasion to also revisit an earlier spat between Badani and Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming.
Key takeaways
- Delhi Capitals were dismissed for 75, the lowest total of IPL 2026, in their match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
- RCB chased the target in under seven overs and won by nine wickets with nine wickets in hand.
- Srikkanth criticised Badani’s tendency to comment on others, telling him to focus on his own responsibilities.
- Srikkanth cited a previous remark by Badani that credited CSK’s success primarily to MS Dhoni rather than Stephen Fleming.
- Delhi sit seventh in the points table and need at least five wins from their remaining six games to stay in playoff contention.
Srikkanth’s criticism after Delhi’s collapse
The former India skipper did not hold back as he questioned Badani’s approach following the heavy loss. With Delhi currently placed seventh in the standings, Srikkanth stressed that the franchise’s situation leaves little room for distractions. In his view, Badani should concentrate on his team’s performance instead of repeatedly targeting other coaches and figures in the league.
Srikkanth also underlined the context of the defeat: two days earlier, Delhi had witnessed Punjab Kings produce the highest-ever chase in T20 cricket when they moved to 265, and then the Capitals’ own batting effort collapsed to a sub-100 total. For Srikkanth, the poor display on the field did not match the level of public discussion happening off it.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, he said that after Badani had gone after Stephen Fleming, the head coach should first sort out matters around himself. He added a broader message about restraint, arguing that too much commentary leads to consequences, and that Badani should now “shut up and watch” as events unfold.
Srikkanth further challenged the logic behind Badani’s comments, asking why anyone should be drawn into discussing other people when their own role is to deliver results. He questioned Badani’s stance that Fleming won titles mainly due to MS Dhoni, and asked what Badani himself had achieved to justify such claims.
What Badani had said about Fleming and Dhoni
The controversy traces back to remarks Badani made two years earlier. He had pointed to CSK’s trophies being shaped by Dhoni’s influence rather than Fleming’s work, arguing that Fleming had not collected silverware as a head coach beyond the IPL.
Badani also questioned the strength of Fleming’s coaching record outside the IPL, referring to Fleming’s stints across leagues such as SA20, The Hundred, and the Big Bash League. He suggested that if Fleming were truly a standout coach, he would have delivered major success beyond Chennai’s environment.
In that earlier discussion, Badani went as far as claiming that CSK’s victories were driven by Dhoni—describing him as the “kingpin”—and stating that he would not agree with the idea that Fleming deserved full credit for CSK’s success.
Delhi’s next match and schedule update
As for the Capitals’ immediate focus, they will play the Rajasthan Royals on Friday, May 1. Ahead of that fixture, Mitchell Starc is expected to feature for Delhi in the match against the inaugural champions.
