NEW DELHI: Former India spinner Murali Kartik believes Delhi Capitals are still wrestling with the psychological fallout of a crushing one-run loss to Gujarat Titans earlier this IPL season. In Kartik\u2019s view, the defeat didn\u2019t just cost DC two points\u2014it disrupted the flow of their entire campaign, leaving lasting mental damage that the side has struggled to shake off. Ahead of Delhi\u2019s high-stakes match against Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday, the spinner argued that the Axar Patel-led group has never truly moved on from that dramatic finish at Arun Jaitley Stadium.<\/p>\n
Kartik pointed to the timing and impact of that result. \u201cDC, last year had started really strongly with four or five wins, and even this year they began with their first two victories. When you look at the squad, it doesn\u2019t seem like there\u2019s nothing there,\u201d he said. \u201cBut that one-run loss against GT\u2014the two points they lost\u2014has become a mental scar for them. I don\u2019t think they\u2019ve recovered from it yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
Delhi had looked primed for another strong run after getting off to a positive start in IPL 2026, winning their opening pair of matches. However, the setback against Gujarat Titans altered their trajectory completely. The loss swung on a tense end to the chase, with David Miller shown turning down a single \u201ccontroversially\u201d before a run-out on the final ball sealed the outcome. For Kartik, that kind of finish often lingers, and he believes it has continued to haunt Delhi\u2019s performances since.<\/p>\n
Since that heartbreaking defeat, Delhi have managed only two wins from their next eight matches. Their season has been marked by sharp reversals of fortune\u2014capable of threatening totals but also prone to collapse at critical moments. Kartik highlighted the swing in Delhi\u2019s results, noting how they have had outings that looked promising before falling apart. \u201cThey then lost after scoring 264, and then they\u2019re bowled out for 75. At one stage they were 13 for 6, so they ended up taking a totally different route altogether,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
With the team sitting seventh in the standings, having collected eight points from 10 matches, Delhi face a demanding path forward. To keep their playoff chances realistic, they would need to win all four of their remaining games, turning every fixture into a must-win.<\/p>\n
Alongside the mental aspect, Kartik also suggested that Delhi\u2019s struggles have shown up clearly in both departments. At home, their batting has repeatedly fallen short on tougher pitches where quality spin has been available, and their batters have not been able to consistently convert starts into defendable totals. On the bowling side, the Capitals have also leaked runs at regular intervals, making it difficult to apply pressure during the middle overs and beyond.<\/p>\n
While Delhi attempt to arrest their slide, Kolkata Knight Riders arrive with momentum. KKR head into the contest buoyed by a three-match winning streak, including a victory over table-toppers Sunrisers Hyderabad. Kartik said he is not certain whether the matchup tips heavily toward one side on paper, but believes the visitors are entering the game in a better mindset. \u201cI don\u2019t know whether KKR are favourites for this match or not, but they will come into the match in a good space,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He also reflected on how the narrative around KKR has shifted over time. \u201cThere was a time when there was so much criticism against them. Players, captain, and everyone were being dragged,\u201d Kartik remarked. Even if KKR\u2019s playoff hopes are still slim, he believes the former champions have at least regained confidence heading into the business end of the tournament\u2014an advantage that could matter when pressure rises and margins shrink.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
NEW DELHI: Former India spinner Murali Kartik believes Delhi Capitals are still wrestling with the psychological fallout of a crushing one-run loss to Gujarat Titans…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":8308,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"IPL 2024: Kartik Says DC Still Reeling After GT Loss","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"IPL 2024: Murali Kartik reveals why Delhi Capitals still feel the mental impact of their one-run GT loss, ahead of a crucial clash with KKR.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8309","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\n