In a recent Indian Premier League 2026 match, the Delhi Capitals (DC) faced an 8-wicket defeat against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin criticized DC skipper Axar Patel for his poor decision to bat first after winning the toss, especially given the rain-affected pitch conditions. Patel's batting has been underwhelming this season, with only 33 runs in seven innings and a strike rate of approximately 90. Ashwin emphasized that DC's middle-order struggles were exacerbated by Patel's lack of contribution, as he scored just 2 runs off 6 balls in the match. With DC currently sitting in 7th place on the points table, they need to win all four of their remaining matches to have a chance at qualifying for the playoffs. Ashwin suggested that Patel should build better relationships with key stakeholders like the curator to improve his decision-making regarding match conditions.