Hemang Badani, the head coach of Delhi Capitals, is urging premier spinner Kuldeep Yadav to rediscover his best form as the franchise’s playoff hopes in IPL 2026 hang by a thread. Following a disappointing loss to Chennai Super Kings, where Kuldeep conceded 34 runs in three overs and was smashed for three sixes by Sanju Samson, his lack of impact has come under scrutiny.
Kuldeep has managed only seven wickets in 10 matches this season, with his economy rate soaring above 10 runs per over—significantly higher than his career IPL economy of around eight. Captain Axar Patel acknowledged that he “missed his partner” on the field, referring to Kuldeep’s diminished contribution as a bowling ally.
Despite the slump, Badani expressed confidence in the spinner’s ability to bounce back. “We would ideally want Kuldeep to be better than this. But we will rally around him. He’s been a part of this side for many years and has done well. He can turn this around,” Badani said. He attributed the dip to a lack of rhythm rather than a permanent decline, adding that Kuldeep has not yet reached his peak bowling speeds.
With Delhi Capitals needing to win all remaining four matches to keep their playoff qualification alive, the team faces a must-win scenario. “It’s crunch time for us. It’s like a knockout tournament now. We have to win four out of four to have a chance,” Badani emphasized.
Kuldeep also missed a large portion of the preceding T20 World Cup, raising questions about his form. However, the coaching staff remains hopeful that the left-arm wrist-spinner can rediscover his wicket-taking touch and help turn the season around.