"Relax Mode Over": Munaf Patel Warns DC Ahead of IPL 2026 CSK Clash

Delhi Capitals bowling coach Munaf Patel has issued a strong warning to his squad ahead of their crucial IPL 2026 clash against Chennai Super Kings, saying the team has moved past its “relaxed mode” and must now focus entirely on winning to stay in playoff contention. Speaking on the eve of the match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, he underlined the urgency of maintaining momentum in a tightly contested league phase.

Both Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings are locked at eight points on the table, but DC currently sit seventh due to an inferior net run rate. The upcoming fixture is particularly significant as Delhi look to reinforce their turnaround after a high-scoring chase against Rajasthan Royals, where they successfully hunted down a target of 226 in Jaipur.

Munaf Patel stressed that the team cannot afford to dwell on past victories. “You don’t have any other option but to win. We play every match to win, but now the relaxed mode is over. If you want to qualify, you have to win all the matches. We have won and forgotten that. If we keep remembering it, we will lose again,” he said, emphasizing the need to stay focused on the present challenge.

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He also expressed confidence in Delhi’s spin attack, particularly Kuldeep Yadav and skipper Axar Patel, noting that slower conditions at this stage of the tournament could play to their advantage. However, he added that support staff can only motivate players, while execution on the field remains the responsibility of the team.

On pitch conditions, Patel suggested that surfaces may not slow down as much as expected despite high-scoring games this season. He pointed out that modern wickets and preparation cycles still allow batters to score heavily, meaning teams should be ready for another potential 200-plus contest rather than overly relying on spin-friendly conditions.

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