Delhi Capitals (DC) captain Axar Patel has lashed out at his fielders for missing crucial chances and at his bowlers for "the way they bowled in the powerplay". All while conceding that DC "deserved to lose" the IPL 2026 run fest against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Delhi.
DC amassed 264 for 2 on the back of a KL Rahul century, but went down by six wickets with seven balls to spare, in what was a record IPL chase by PBKS. Karun Nair dropped Shreyas Iyer twice in two overs - on 29 and 35 - and the PBKS captain went on to score an unbeaten 71 off 36 balls. DC put down six catches in all in the innings, two each of Prabhsimran Singh and Iyer, and one each of Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly.
"We are repeating the same mistakes," Axar said after the game on the broadcast. "On such a wicket, if you are not supporting the bowler and [missing] so many chances, then I think you deserve to lose. At the same time, our bowling unit also has to look at the way they bowled in the powerplay."
PBKS smashed 116 runs in the first six overs, the second-highest IPL team total in that phase. "Overall, the way our fast bowlers bowled in the powerplay and our bowling and the fielding and opportunities we missed, I think they are the main reasons [we lost]."
Axar felt that DC's 264 was "a very good score" on a flat surface, but not grabbing the crucial moments and repeating mistakes cost the team. DC have now lost back-to-back games and sit sixth on the points table with three wins and four losses.
"On this kind of wicket, 267 [264] was a very good score," Axar said. "I said at the toss as well that if we managed to grab the crucial moments, the earlier games could have gone our way and we can win in future as well. But the main thing is that you need to grab the moment. We will go back and see what areas we can improve upon."