Delhi Capitals‘ assistant coach ian bell has openly admitted that the franchise’s inconsistent batting performance has been one of the biggest reasons behind their disappointing campaign. Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. With the playoff race entering its final stages, Bell asserted that the team has failed to create consistency in the batting order, leaving them vulnerable in difficult conditions throughout the season.
Delhi are currently eighth on the points table with only 10 points from 12 matches, a situation that has significantly complicated their chances of qualification. The team now finds itself in a must-win position in the final stages of the tournament.
Ian Bell explains the reason behind DC’s campaign derailment in IPL 2026
Speaking ahead of the crucial match against Delhi Capitals Rajasthan Royals At the Arun Jaitley Stadium on 17 May, Bell highlighted how top-performing teams this season have benefited from a settled and reliable batting lineup.
According to Bell, Delhi’s frequent cuts and changes as well as the lack of consistent performances from the middle-order batsmen have prevented the team from building momentum during the competition. He said successful IPL teams are usually built around a strong batting core, which Delhi has lacked throughout the season.
“When you look at the top four teams at the moment, there is a lot of stability in the batting order. I think for some time now, not having that stability in the batting order is something that we are obviously working on.” Bell said.
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KL Rahul is the only positive for DC
One of the few positives for Delhi Capitals this season has been their form KL Rahul. The experienced batsman has not only scored valuable runs but has also improved his scoring rate, which was earlier criticized by experts and fans alike. Bell explained that the coaching staff is trying to find the right combination, but the absence of reliable contributions from several players has hurt the team in pressure situations. He also admitted that apart from opener Rahul, no other batsman has been able to cement his place in the playing eleven with impressive performance.
Bell praised Rahul for changing his approach and playing with more intent in IPL 2026. However, he made it clear that the team cannot rely on one batsman alone if it hopes to challenge stronger sides in the competition. The former England batsman stressed that Delhi desperately needs other players in the lineup to take responsibility and perform consistently in the remaining matches.
“KL has had a great year again. He has increased his strike rate, which a lot of people asked him to do. But we also need other people to step up and be more consistent. I don’t think anyone has made themselves unbeatable with that performance yet, and I think that’s important too.” Bell added.
With only a few league matches left, Delhi is now under immense pressure to deliver a near-perfect performance to stay in the playoff race. Their upcoming encounter against Rajasthan Royals could prove to be decisive in determining whether they remain in the competition or bow out of the tournament.
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