DC Defends Benching Prithvi Shaw: "Whom Should We Drop—Nissanka or Rahul?"

Delhi Capitals management has defended its decision not to play Prithvi Shaw during the ongoing Indian Premier League 2026 season despite the team’s disappointing campaign and mounting criticism over the batting unit’s inconsistency. The franchise currently finds itself on the verge of elimination after suffering four defeats in its last five matches, leaving fans questioning several selection decisions, including Shaw’s continued absence from the playing XI.

The issue became a major talking point after Delhi Capitals’ latest defeat, with many supporters and analysts arguing that Shaw deserved an opportunity given his past performances for both the franchise and the Indian national team. Despite the team’s struggles at the top of the order and in the middle overs, Shaw has not featured in a single match this season, prompting speculation about the management’s confidence in the aggressive opener.

Responding to questions during the post-match press conference, Delhi Capitals Director of Cricket Venugopal Rao gave a direct response when asked why Shaw had not been selected. Rao questioned which of the current openers should be removed from the lineup to accommodate him, referring specifically to Pathum Nissanka and KL Rahul, both of whom have occupied the opening positions for the side in recent matches.

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Rao also admitted that the team’s biggest issue this season has been a lack of responsibility within the batting group. According to him, players have failed to step up collectively during pressure situations, resulting in repeated collapses and inconsistent performances. He suggested that the management still hopes to see improvement in the remaining matches of the campaign and hinted that changes could be considered depending on how the batting unit performs in upcoming fixtures.

The Delhi Capitals official additionally spoke about the poor form of captain Axar Patel, acknowledging that the all-rounder has struggled despite entering the tournament as a member of India’s recent World Cup-winning squads. Rao stated that the team expected more from a senior player of Axar’s experience but expressed confidence that the skipper could recover his form during the final phase of the tournament. He also admitted that several experienced players had failed to deliver consistently this season.

Delhi Capitals remain mathematically alive in the race for the playoffs, though their qualification hopes are extremely slim. The team has managed only four wins in eleven matches and now requires victories in all remaining fixtures while also depending on favourable results from other teams. With pressure increasing on both players and management, the franchise’s handling of squad selections, including the continued exclusion of Prithvi Shaw, is likely to remain under intense scrutiny for the rest of the IPL 2026 season.

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