Even after suffering a heavy loss to Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals still have a mathematical route to the playoffs, former India spinner Piyush Chawla believes. For DC, though, the defeat on Friday dealt a major blow to their IPL 2026 postseason plans, and they now sit in eighth place with 8 points from 11 matches (4 wins, 7 defeats). With their net run rate also working against them, their qualification hopes have shifted into a pressure-filled “must-not-slip” phase where results around them still matter—but execution from their side matters more.
Chawla said DC should treat the remaining fixtures as an opportunity to reset and regroup rather than focus on what has gone wrong. Speaking on JioHotstar, the former cricketer stressed that the franchise still has “something left to play for” and urged the team to bring their best effort to every remaining game.
“Delhi Capitals still have a mathematical chance. So, there is definitely something left to play for. At this stage, it’s important for the team to stay together, play with freedom, and focus on building momentum rather than worrying about other results,” Chawla said.
He added that the side must avoid turning on itself and instead channel energy into performance. “Instead of looking for faults or blaming each other, they need to back themselves, play good cricket, and take pride in the remaining games. A couple of wins can quickly change the atmosphere around the side,” he remarked.
Turning point and chase details
Former South Africa wicketkeeper Mark Boucher pointed to one key moment from the KKR-Dc clash, highlighting KL Rahul’s dismissal as a potential swing in the match. Rahul was out for 23, and Boucher suggested that losing him at that point in the innings mattered more than just the runs on the board.
“Ideally, you want him batting beyond the Powerplay so he can control the tempo through the middle overs. This is now the second time he has fallen around that phase while trying to take the game on,” Boucher said.
Boucher further explained that while others can play an aggressive brand of cricket, Rahul’s real impact comes from stabilising the innings and managing momentum for longer spells. “The aggressive role can be taken up by others around him, but Rahul’s value lies in going deep into the innings and managing momentum. From a team perspective, his wicket carries huge importance, and they would want him to place even greater value on it going forward,” he added.
In the chase, KKR successfully reached the target of 143 with ease, closing at 147/2 in 14.2 overs. The win was powered by Finn Allen, who struck an unbeaten century in the 47-ball format, finishing with 100*.
Allen’s assault had a strike rate of 212.77, with the opener landing five fours and 10 sixes as KKR took control early and never allowed the contest to tighten.
- KKR chased down 143 runs to win the match.
- The target was reached in 14.2 overs with KKR finishing on 147/2.
- Finn Allen powered the chase with an unbeaten 100 off 47 balls.
- Allen struck at 212.77, hitting five fours and 10 sixes.
After the match, Allen explained how he managed the early phase of the innings. “I just tried to knuckle down early. It was still a little bit challenging at the start, Axar bowled really well and restricted us. So like I said, just try to get in strong positions and bat deep,” he said.
