New Delhi, April 28: Delhi Capitals faced a crushing defeat against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 39th match of IPL 2026, collapsing for just 75 runs. Captain Akshar Patel expressed his confusion over the team’s performance after the match.
Batting first at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi Capitals struggled significantly, losing their last six wickets for a mere 8 runs and finishing their innings in just 16.3 overs. In response, RCB chased down the target effortlessly in just 6.3 overs.
Following the loss, Patel stated, “I still don’t understand what happened. Everyone says that in cricket, you must stay alert every day and keep doing the same things repeatedly. However, when you step onto the field for the next match, you have to forget this and move on.”
Delhi Capitals had started the season strong, winning their first two matches. However, they faced a narrow defeat against Gujarat Titans and have now lost five of their last six matches. When asked if the team’s fortunes changed after the match against GT, Patel remarked, “Yes, you might think that way today, but I believe there will always be ‘what ifs.’ You can think that if we had taken that catch or completed that run against Gujarat Titans, maybe the momentum would have stayed. But these things happen. What matters is that you come in every day, stay alert, and continue doing what you have been doing.”
He added, “The IPL is a very tough tournament. You can’t afford to think that things will go smoothly even for a day. You must come in and implement your plan every time. Yes, momentum matters, but you cannot dwell on ‘if only this had happened.’ It’s better to focus on what’s in front of you.”
Regarding moving forward after this match, Patel emphasized, “I think we need to move on. If you think negatively, you will lose matches. If you think positively, you can perform well. So, we must forget this and look ahead. I would tell the team that one bad match doesn’t mean you start pointing fingers at each other or blaming the batsmen. We need to stay positive, continue what we have been doing in the last 6-7 matches, and maintain the right mindset.”
When asked if he was surprised by the movement of the ball at the start, Patel replied, “I wouldn’t say I was surprised. They are world-class bowlers and can swing the ball anywhere; they have done this on every ground. However, I believe if our openers or any top-order batsman had played the early overs better, it might have made a difference, and the match result could have been different. But credit goes to their bowling.”
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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