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 \u201cmust-not-slip\u201d phase where results around them still matter\u2014but execution from their side matters more.<\/p>\n
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 \u201csomething left to play for\u201d and urged the team to bring their best effort to every remaining game.<\/p>\n
\u201cDelhi Capitals still have a mathematical chance. So, there is definitely something left to play for. At this stage, it\u2019s important for the team to stay together, play with freedom, and focus on building momentum rather than worrying about other results,\u201d Chawla said.<\/p>\n
He added that the side must avoid turning on itself and instead channel energy into performance. \u201cInstead 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,\u201d he remarked.<\/p>\n
Former South Africa wicketkeeper Mark Boucher pointed to one key moment from the KKR-Dc clash, highlighting KL Rahul\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIdeally, 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,\u201d Boucher said.<\/p>\n
Boucher further explained that while others can play an aggressive brand of cricket, Rahul\u2019s real impact comes from stabilising the innings and managing momentum for longer spells. \u201cThe aggressive role can be taken up by others around him, but Rahul\u2019s 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,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
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*.<\/p>\n
Allen\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
After the match, Allen explained how he managed the early phase of the innings. \u201cI 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":8596,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Piyush Chawla: DC IPL 2026 Playoff Chances After KKR Loss","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Piyush Chawla assesses Delhi Capitals\u2019 IPL 2026 playoff path after a crushing KKR defeat, with DC in 8th and facing must-win pressure.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8598","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\n