‘We didn’t seize those moments’ – Badani on DC’s what-could-have-been season
Reflecting on a Lost Opportunity
For the fifth consecutive year, the Delhi Capitals (DC) have finished their Indian Premier League campaign outside the playoff positions. Despite a change in personnel and leadership strategies, the franchise finds itself in a recurring cycle of disappointment. The partnership of Hemang Badani and skipper Axar Patel, while showing resilience, has yet to find the winning formula required to propel the team into the top four.
Reflecting on the recently concluded IPL 2026 season, which saw the side finish in sixth place, Hemang Badani offered a candid assessment of what went wrong. While the team started the tournament with promising back-to-back victories, they were unable to maintain the necessary momentum to sustain a playoff push.
The Crucial Margins
Badani pointed to several specific instances where the team faltered. In a format defined by fine margins, the inability to close out tight encounters proved fatal. ‘There were many games where I genuinely felt that the game could go either way and we didn’t seize those moments,’ Badani noted during the post-match press conference following their final win against the Kolkata Knight Riders.
He specifically highlighted the one-run loss to the Gujarat Titans and the failure to defend a massive score of 264 against the Punjab Kings as pivotal points. Additionally, lapses in the field, including dropped catches during key phases against Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, essentially drained the team of vital points that could have altered their trajectory.
The Bowling Conundrum
Beyond individual moments of misfortune, the team struggled with a lack of consistent wicket-taking. Despite ending the season on a high note by bowling out KKR, DC finished with only 64 wickets across their 14 games, tied for the lowest in the league. The absence of Mitchell Starc for the first nine games of the season was a significant blow.
Badani admitted that missing a bowler of Starc’s caliber hampered their progress, as he provides both tactical pressure and a reliable threat in all phases of the game. However, he refused to use it as a complete excuse. ‘Starc does make a huge difference. But I think, as a side, I genuinely feel that if we had played those small margins… it’s a game of small margins,’ he added.
Axar Patel on Leadership and Mental Fortitude
Captain Axar Patel echoed these sentiments while maintaining a positive outlook on the team’s late-season resurgence. Though qualification was out of reach, winning their final three matches served as a testament to the squad’s character. ‘We were not playing well, but we kept fighting,’ Axar remarked during the broadcast. ‘The way we played the last three games was a very good effort until the final ball.’
Axar also reflected on the unique challenges of captaincy in the high-pressure environment of the IPL. He emphasized the importance of emotional regulation, noting that he had to consciously avoid frustration when things went wrong to ensure his decision-making remained objective. ‘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.
Looking Ahead: A Soft Reset
As the curtains close on another season of ‘what-ifs,’ the Delhi Capitals face a period of transition. The upcoming season promises a soft reset as operational control shifts between ownership partners. While the faces in the dugout and the front office may evolve, the franchise is left with the familiar task of addressing the structural inconsistencies that have plagued them for half a decade. For the fans and the management alike, the focus now shifts to learning from these narrow failures and building a more clinical side for the challenges ahead.
