Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel conceded that both the batting and bowling units failed the team after their eight-wicket defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026 on Friday. The loss has severely dented Delhi's playoff hopes, and the skipper hinted that the franchise has already started planning for the next season.
Match Overview
Delhi Capitals managed only 142 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs at home. In response, Kolkata Knight Riders chased down the target in just 14.2 overs, with Finn Allen smashing an unbeaten 100 and Cameron Green remaining not out on 33. The comprehensive victory lifted KKR to seventh place on the points table with nine points from 10 matches, while DC slipped to eighth with eight points from 11 games.
Axar Patel's Post-Match Analysis
Speaking after the match, Axar said, "For now, we'll go back and think about the mistakes we made. After that, obviously there's still a long journey ahead and next year will come too. So we'll think about what plans we can make for next year and what approach we should take." He added, "Based on that, we can also look at the players sitting on the bench and decide who can be given opportunities and what changes we can make."
The captain admitted that the total of 142 was insufficient and pointed out errors by the bowlers during the defense. "I think the runs were definitely below par and at the same time the spinners made quite a few mistakes. Looking at the way the pitch behaved, I feel the spinners did make errors," Axar stated.
Batting Collapse Under Scrutiny
Axar also highlighted the batting collapse that saw Delhi lose five wickets in the space of two to three overs. "At the same time, we lost five wickets in two-three overs, and I think that's where the momentum slipped away from us. That's probably something we need to think about because the same thing happened against CSK...we started well, and then suddenly wickets kept falling," he explained.
The DC skipper emphasized the need for better handling of pressure when wickets fall in quick succession. "See, you can't solve it in a complicated way. So, I think it's more about applying the right mindset. Even if you lose one or two wickets, you can still spend time at the crease and play through it. I think that's what needs to be applied, when wickets are falling in clusters, you need to absorb the pressure for an over or two," Axar said.
Looking Ahead
With only three matches remaining in the league stage, Delhi Capitals face an uphill task to qualify for the playoffs. The team will need to win all remaining games and hope for other results to go their way. Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight Riders have won four consecutive matches and are building momentum at the right time.
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