Delhi Capitals assistant coach Ian Bell has admitted that batting inconsistency has derailed the team’s IPL 2026 campaign and has urged the line-up to strengthen around KL Rahul in the form of the opener. With the playoff race tightening, Bell pointed out that DC’s inability to build steady batting partnerships has limited them at key times.
The Capitals are currently languishing in eighth place with 10 points from 12 games, leaving little room for error in their remaining games.
“When you look at the top four teams at the moment, there’s a lot of consistency in the batting line-up. I think for a while, not having that stability in the batting line-up is something we’re obviously working on,” Bell said ahead of DC’s match against Rajasthan Royals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on May 17.
“KL is having a fantastic year again. He’s increased his strikeouts, which a lot of people have been asking him to do. But we need other people to step up and be more consistent. I don’t think anyone has become an unstoppable performer yet, and I think that’s important as well,” he added.
Bell too pointed out the complete inconsistency in DC’s performanceshighlighting how the side swung between extremes in the same season. “We have to accept, and it’s been a crazy season, the fact that we scored 265 points here and then got 70 points. You can’t win competitions when you’re so inconsistent,” he said.
While DC’s aggressive batting produced big scores, Bell acknowledged that adaptability is lacking in conditions that require different skills.
“Plan A is to be ultra-aggressive. But we also saw here in Delhi where the wicket can be a bit different and you have to use different skills. You don’t win T20 cricket anymore by playing safe and building foundations. But I think the best teams can adapt. We have to be better at that,” he said.
DC INCONSISTENCY UNDER SPORTS LIGHTS
Axar Patel’s form worried DC (Photo Reuters)
Apart from the batting concerns, Bell was also concerned with the form of captain Axar Patel, who has struggled to make a consistent impact this season. The former England batsman stressed the importance of supporting the all-rounder during a difficult phase.
“I think it was really important to back him up and get around him. It’s not easy. He’s an important player not just for this series but for India in T20 cricket. He’s obviously more disappointed than probably anybody else,” Bell said. “We hope he can finish at a really high level. We know what he does best and we have to keep supporting him in that,” he added.
Only two league games left, Delhi Capitals now face a must-win scenario to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Their campaign was defined by extreme swings in batting performance, from record totals to dramatic collapses in a matter of days.
Despite KL Rahul’s strong form, the lack of consistent middle-order support has seen DC struggle to convert promising starts into overall winning matches. As the tournament approaches its business end, Bell’s message is clear – individual brilliance alone will not be enough without collective stability.
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Published on:
17 May 2026 07:00 IST
