‘We didn’t seize those moments’ – Badani on DC’s what-could-have-been season
A Familiar Narrative for Delhi Capitals
For the fifth consecutive year, the Delhi Capitals (DC) find themselves on the outside looking in as the IPL playoffs commence. This recurring theme of inconsistency has persisted regardless of shifts in leadership or personnel. For the second straight season, the tactical partnership between Hemang Badani and skipper Axar Patel has failed to propel the franchise into the top four. Following the conclusion of the 2026 season, where the team finished sixth despite a promising two-win start, the post-mortem analysis suggests a campaign defined by fine margins.
The Crucial Moments That Slipped Away
Hemang Badani was candid in his assessment during the post-match press conference after Delhi’s final game against the Kolkata Knight Riders. He emphasized that the difference between a playoff spot and an early exit lay in the team’s inability to convert pressure into points. “There were many games where I genuinely felt that the game could go either way and we didn’t seize those moments,” Badani admitted.
Badani pointed to specific instances that came back to haunt the squad. The heart-breaking one-run loss to the Gujarat Titans and the failure to defend a formidable total of 264 against the Punjab Kings stand out as pivotal failures. Additionally, costly dropped catches during matches against the Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad prevented the Capitals from closing out games that were well within their grasp.
The Bowling Struggle and the Starc Factor
Beyond the lack of clinical execution in the field, DC faced a significant deficit in terms of wicket-taking. Even after bowling out KKR in their season finale, the team concluded the tournament with only 64 wickets across 14 matches—the lowest figure shared among all IPL franchises. The absence of Mitchell Starc for the first nine games of the season was a massive blow to their bowling attack.
While Starc’s return yielded 11 wickets at an average of 20.36 in his six appearances, his prolonged absence left a void that the rest of the attack struggled to fill. Badani acknowledged that Starc makes a “huge difference,” but insisted that the team had sufficient resources to succeed even without him had they managed the small moments better. “It’s a game of small margins. Literally, very small margins,” he added.
Axar Patel on Leadership and Mental Fortitude
Captain Axar Patel echoed Badani’s sentiments regarding the season’s missed opportunities but remained proud of the team’s fighting spirit in the final stages of the tournament. Securing three consecutive wins to finish the season provided some solace to a side that had struggled for consistency earlier in the year.
Reflecting on his role as a leader, Axar shared personal insights into the challenges of captaincy in a high-pressure environment. “I have learnt about myself that in a high-pressure tournament, you need to take care of everyone, but it’s most important to be in a good frame of mind yourself,” he explained. For the skipper, managing his own frustration was paramount to avoiding a negative ripple effect on the team’s decision-making process.
Looking Toward a New Era
As the IPL moves into the next season, the Delhi Capitals face a period of transition. A significant structural change is on the horizon, with co-ownership control shifting from GMR Sports back to JSW Sports for the next two years. This “soft reset” arrives at a time when the franchise is desperate for stability.
While the leadership faces the scrutiny that comes with another season of “what ifs,” the underlying challenges remain clear. The questions surrounding squad depth, death-over bowling, and the ability to maintain composure under pressure are issues the franchise has yet to solve. Whether this upcoming management shift will provide the catalyst for change or simply continue the current cycle remains to be seen. For now, the Capitals are left to reflect on a season where, once again, the smallest of margins decided their fate.
Rohan Kapoor is a cricket editor and sports content analyst based in New Delhi with over 6 years of experience covering IPL, T20 leagues, and international cricket. He specializes in match analysis, player statistics, and tactical breakdowns, bringing data-driven insights to modern cricket audiences across India.
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