IPL 2026: Irfan Pathan Calls Kuldeep Yadav’s Form A Major Concern
Irfan Pathan says Delhi Capitals need Kuldeep Yadav back at his best quickly.
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has identified poor decision-making under pressure and the declining form of spinner Kuldeep Yadav as the biggest reasons behind Delhi Capitals’ inconsistent campaign in IPL 2026. Despite boasting an experienced squad, Delhi currently sit seventh in the standings and are struggling to stay in contention for a playoff spot as the tournament enters its crucial phase.
Speaking during JioHotstar’s ‘Champions Waali Commentary’, Pathan said Delhi had enough quality in their squad to comfortably challenge for a top-four finish but failed to utilise their resources effectively. He pointed to experienced names such as KL Rahul, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mitchell Starc and David Miller as evidence of the team’s strong core. However, he said crucial moments, including the narrow last-ball defeat against Gujarat Titans, exposed the side’s inability to make calm decisions under pressure.
Delhi’s constant experimentation with team combinations has further compounded their problems this season. The franchise has already used 20 players, joint-second most among all teams, while the middle order has seen repeated changes with players like Tristan Stubbs, Sameer Rizvi, David Miller, Axar Patel, Ashutosh Sharma, Karun Nair and Abishek Porel shuffled across positions. Pathan also criticised the side’s tactical calls, especially after Delhi chose to bat first against Chennai Super Kings despite rain interruptions and recent evidence that chasing was easier at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Also Read: Delhi Capitals React To Kuldeep Yadav’s Expensive And Ineffective IPL 2026 Performance
The team’s poor home record has become another major concern. Delhi have won just one of their five matches at home this season and only two of their last 10 games at the Arun Jaitley Stadium since IPL 2025. Their struggles while setting targets have also hurt them, with the side losing all three matches in which they batted first. Delhi’s bowling attack has been among the weakest in the competition, managing only 41 wickets so far while conceding runs at an economy rate of 10.2.
Kuldeep Yadav’s dip in form has added to the franchise’s worries. The left-arm wrist spinner has taken only seven wickets in nine matches and has gone wicketless in five games while conceding runs at an economy of 10.4 — the worst economy rate of his IPL career. Pathan said Delhi heavily rely on Kuldeep, especially on spin-friendly tracks, and his inability to control the scoring rate or pick wickets has severely impacted the bowling unit’s effectiveness this season.
Delhi Capitals will now look to revive their playoff hopes when they face Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday. Meanwhile, Pathan also spoke about his experience on the ‘Champions Waali Commentary’ feed, describing it as a more analytical and detailed alternative to conventional Hindi commentary. According to him, the format allows commentators to provide deeper cricketing insights and share fresh perspectives with viewers during live IPL matches.
Also Read: IPL 2026: Axar Patel Criticises Kuldeep Yadav’s Ineffective Spell Vs CSK
