IPL 2026: Decision-making could be better’ – Irfan Pathan dissects Delhi Capitals’ struggles

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan feels that Axar Patel’s uninspiring captaincy and Kuldeep Yadav’s indifferent form have been the two biggest factors behind Delhi Capitals’ lacklustre IPL 2026 campaign.

Another issue bugging the franchise is the lack of a stable team combination. The Capitals have used 20 players so far, the joint second-most alongside Chennai Super Kings and Lucknow Super Giants.

The Axar Patel-led team is teetering at the seventh spot in the points table with eight points in 10 matches. After starting the tournament with two consecutive wins, the Capitals lost their way and have lost four of their last five games, with the race for the playoffs heating up.

Pathan reckoned that the Capitals have enough firepower to qualify for the playoffs even from the current situation, but added that it will require better on-field decisions and contributions from the entire team.

“I think, last year as well as this year, Delhi was a team that was to be a shoo-in contender for being in the top four. If you look at the players, they are very experienced and well-established players in this team. If you talk about KL Rahul, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mitchell Starc, and even Lungi Ngidi, who did well in the World Cup, we all know that his variation gives a lot of problems to the big players,” Pathan was quoted as saying by NDTV.

“If you look at Miller this season, he’s also there to solve DC’s issue with a lack of experience in finishing games last year. But I think that the match against the Gujarat Titans, in which they lost on the last ball, will haunt them big time because, yes, it is not easy to take responsibility for any player and say that I will win the match, and every player wants to do that. But many times you take the wrong decision under pressure,” he added.

The Capitals have also been one of the teams that have struggled consistently to exploit the proverbial home advantage, having just one win in five games at the Arun Jaitley Stadium this season. It has been a recurring issue for the franchise, as they have managed only two wins in 10 matches at the venue since IPL 2025.

“See, I think two things have been a big factor for Delhi Capitals – one, I think decision-making could have been better. If we talk about the last game, winning the toss, batting first, and thinking that the conditions would get better later, was an issue.

“Especially when the match against RCB, a few days ago, on the same ground, they were batting first and were 75 out. That day, there was a weather issue, and in this match against CSK, it also rained, and there was a possibility of the weather being inclement.

“So you want to chase there, and you had even won the toss too. So, a little decision-making, I think, there was a little problem in that. Then, the availability of Mitchell Starc, not being there at the start of the season, was a problem. But I think they could have used their resources better,” added Pathan.

The former all-rounder also touched upon Kuldeep’s form. The left-arm wrist-spinner has conceded runs at 10.4 this season, managing only seven wickets and going wicketless in five of his nine outings.

“Secondly, Kuldeep Yadav not being in form is a big problem for Delhi because you depend on him, right? Especially on a turning track, where there was a little help in the pitch, and if you concede runs and don’t even take a wicket, then it’s a matter of concern.

“Look, he’s a very good bowler, and there are no two ways about it. But going above 10 runs per over, for any team, you would expect much better performance from your main spinner. So these are 2-3 things, in which Delhi could have been much better. If it had been the case, then maybe their team would have played according to that potential, and they would have seen better results,” added Pathan.