Axar Patel: Delhi Capitals 10-15 Runs Short vs Chennai Super Kings

Delhi Capitals (DC) skipper Axar Patel admitted his team was about 10-15 runs short in their first innings during their Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Chasing a target of 156, CSK comfortably won by eight wickets with 15 balls remaining at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium.

DC, after winning the toss and batting first, managed to score 155/7. Despite being restricted by CSK’s bowlers, including Noor Ahmad and Akeal Hosein, DC fought back with lower-order contributions from Tristan Stubbs (38 runs) and Sameer Rizvi (40 runs). However, they fell short in the first innings.

In reply, CSK’s Sanju Samson (87) and Kartik Sharma (41) shared an unbeaten 114-run partnership to chase down the target effortlessly. Axar noted that while the pitch improved slightly, it was still challenging for new batters, especially against set players.

DC now sit seventh in the IPL 2026 standings with four wins from 10 matches and eight points. With only four group-stage games left, they need to win all remaining matches to qualify for the playoffs.

Axar emphasized the importance of a clear mindset and converting every opportunity into a win, as any mistakes could prove costly. Notably, DC has struggled at Arun Jaitley Stadium this season, winning only two of 10 matches, while performing better at other venues with nine wins from 14 games.