Capitals of Delhi‘ assistant coach Ian Bell has openly admitted that the franchise’s inconsistent batting performances have been one of the biggest reasons for their underperformance this campaign. Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Entering the final stages of the playoff race, Bell highlighted the team’s inability to establish consistency in the batting order, leaving them vulnerable in tough situations throughout the season.
Delhi are currently sitting eighth in the points table with just 10 points from 12 matches, making their chances of qualifying a lot tougher. The side is now in a must-win position heading into the finals of the tournament.
Ian Bell reveals why DC’s campaign could be derailed in IPL 2026
Speaking ahead of the crucial clash against Delhi Capitals Rajasthan Royals At the Arun Jaitley Stadium on May 17, Bell highlighted how the top-performing teams this season have benefited from a stable and reliable batting line-up.
According to Bell, Delhi’s repeated chopping and changing, coupled with a lack of consistent performances from the middle-order batters, prevented the side from gaining momentum during the competition. He added that successful IPL teams are usually built around a strong batting core, something Delhi lacked throughout the season.
“Looking at the top four teams right now, there’s a lot of consistency in the batting line-up. I think that lack of consistency in the batting line-up for a while now is obviously something we’ve been working on.” Bell said.
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KL Rahul is only positive for DC
One of the few positives for Delhi Capitals this season has been their form KL Rahul. The experienced batsman not only scored valuable runs but also improved his scoring rate, which had earlier drawn criticism from pundits and fans. Bell explained that while the coaching staff tried to find the right combinations, the lack of reliable contributions from multiple players hurt the team in pressure situations. He also admitted that apart from Rahul, no other batsman has been able to cement his place in the playing XI with his impressive performances.
Bell praised Rahul for adapting his approach and playing with greater intent in IPL 2026. However, he made it clear that the team cannot rely on one strike if they hope to challenge stronger sides in the competition. The former England striker stressed that Delhi badly needed other players in the line-up to shoulder the responsibility and perform consistently in the remaining matches.
“KL has had a fantastic year again. He’s increased his strike rate, which a lot of people have asked him to do. But we need other people to step up and be more consistent. I don’t think anyone has let themselves down with their performance yet, and I think that’s important.” Bell added.
With just a few league matches remaining, Delhi now face immense pressure to put in a stellar performance to stay alive in the play-off race. Their upcoming game against Rajasthan Royals could be crucial in determining whether they stay in contention or make an early exit from the tournament.
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