even though Delhi Capitals (DC) Leaned out of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026captain Akshar Patel This ensured his side finished the campaign on a high. After DC’s spectacular 40 run win Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) At the Eden Gardens, the all-rounder reflected on his team’s journey and also revealed which team he believes is best equipped to move forward this season.
Despite Delhi missing out on a place in the playoffs, Akshar remained honest and balanced in his assessment of the competition. The DC skipper admitted that one franchise in particular is looking extremely dangerous in the knockout stage.
Akshar Patel names the strongest playoff team
During the post-match presentation, the characters were asked to identify the strongest teams among the four playoff-qualified teams. Without any hesitation he chose Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) As the standout side of IPL 2026. According to Akshar, SRH’s explosive top-order batting gives them an edge over every other team in the tournament. He explained that when his top three take charge, they become almost impossible to stop.
“I think SRH are looking very strong. When their top three score runs, it becomes very difficult to stop that team. So I think SRH,” Akshar said after the match.
The Delhi captain’s praise comes as no surprise considering the kind of cricket Hyderabad has played throughout the season. Their aggressive batting approach at the top has consistently dismantled bowling attacks, while their bowling unit, led by captain Pat Cummins, has provided balance in difficult moments.
Also read: Top 5 IPL teams with most playoff performances, Royal Challengers Bangalore
Delhi Capitals finished IPL 2026 on a high note
Although their playoff hopes were already over, Delhi Capitals performed brilliantly in their final league-stage match against KKR. Playing away from home at the prestigious Eden Gardens, DC produced a complete all-round effort to end their season with pride.
Starting the innings, KL Rahul Provided the opening fireworks by scoring a breathtaking 60 runs off just 30 balls. Their attacking intent put Kolkata under immediate pressure and set the right platform for a huge score. Akshar also played an important role in the middle overs and played a quickfire inning of 39 runs to maintain the momentum. experienced batsman david miller Then finished with a crucial cameo in the death overs, helping Delhi post a mammoth score of 203/5 in 20 overs.
KKR’s chase never really gained momentum as DC’s bowlers remained in control throughout the innings. Mitchell Starc Important hits were made with the new ball during the spinner’s return. -Kuldeep Yadav Made an immediate impact with disciplined spells in the middle overs. Delhi eventually secured a comfortable 40-run win, giving their fans something to cheer about despite the disappointment of missing the playoffs.
After the match, Akshar spoke emotionally about the campaign and the resilience shown by his team during the difficult moments. Instead of focusing only on the missed chances, the DC captain praised the team’s attitude and commitment till the end. He admitted that Delhi’s season could have looked very different had some close moments not gone in their favour. According to Axar, the margin between qualification and elimination was extremely narrow this year.
“I’m very proud that no one thought we would give up. The way the team fought even when you know things weren’t going well – I’m very proud of that. If you talk about one match – if just one match had been different, things could have been very different,” Axar added.
Also read: IPL 2026: Fans go wild after KL Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav shine in DC’s emphatic win against KKR