Delhi Capitals (DC) have faced significant challenges at their home ground, the Arun Jaitley Stadium, throughout IPL 2026. However, they concluded their home campaign with a victory against Rajasthan Royals on Sunday, keeping their playoff hopes alive, albeit narrowly. DC's dismal home record of five losses and two wins this season became a major topic during the post-match press conference, prompting head coach Hemang Badani to deliver some blunt remarks.
Badani's Frustration with Home Venue
After securing the win against RR, Badani stated, "We've stopped discussing the surface," adding that the team now treats this venue as an away ground. He highlighted the stark contrast between their home and away performances: "If you break the season into two halves, we have four wins in six games away, and we have primarily struggled at home." With just two wins at home, DC's loss percentage stands at a baffling 71.4%, the second-worst among all 10 teams in this IPL edition.
Inconsistent Pitches Blamed
Badani explained that the three pitches used in Delhi for their matches were highly inconsistent. "One match we're out for 75, another on 150, another on 260. So we don't know how to consistently play on pitch No. 4, No. 5, or No. 6. That is difficult for you to prepare." He noted that the surface behavior varied drastically, making it nearly impossible for the team to strategize effectively.
Impact on Match Against RR
Reflecting on Sunday's game, Badani pointed out how the pitch influenced the match's complexion. "Even if you look at their innings, they were 160 for 2 after 14 overs, then they hardly got runs in the end—about 33 in the last six overs while we picked up six wickets. The same happened to us. The ball was reversing and holding on the surface, so we decided to take the game deep."
Call for Home Advantage Control
When asked whether BCCI should allow teams to have control over their pitches for home advantage, Badani reiterated the need for consistency. Cricket expert Sanjay Manjrekar had also previously suggested that teams should have a say in pitch preparation. For DC, fighting to stay in the playoff race, the unpredictable 22 yards in Delhi have proven to be the ultimate challenge.
IPL 2026 Home Records Summary
- RCB: 7 matches, 6 wins, 1 loss, 85.7% win rate
- CSK: 6 matches, 4 wins, 2 losses, 66.7%
- SRH: 6 matches, 4 wins, 2 losses, 66.7%
- GT: 6 matches, 4 wins, 2 losses, 66.7%
- RR: 6 matches, 3 wins, 3 losses, 50%
- KKR: 5 matches, 2 wins, 2 losses, 1 no result, 50%
- PBKS: 7 matches, 3 wins, 4 losses, 42.9%
- MI: 6 matches, 2 wins, 4 losses, 33.3%
- DC: 7 matches, 2 wins, 5 losses, 28.6%
- LSG: 6 matches, 1 win, 5 losses, 16.7%
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