Balaji pointed out that while skipper Axar Patel has been highly economical, Delhi Capitals have not received enough support from Kuldeep Yadav in the bowling department. The left-arm wrist spinner has taken only seven wickets in 11 matches, averaging 50.29 with an economy rate of 10.67.
He further suggested that although Kuldeep did not feature heavily in the T20 World Cup, participation in a major tournament could have contributed to fatigue. According to Balaji, Kuldeep’s struggles in picking wickets during the middle overs have significantly impacted DC’s campaign this season.
“Axar Patel has been extremely economical. Kuldeep Yadav has not met expectations in the wickets column. He is probably fatigued after the T20 World Cup, despite not playing so many matches there. Wickets in the middle overs are too important in modern-day T20 cricket. That’s what’s been missing with DC because of Kuldeep’s form,” Balaji said on Star Sports.
Balaji also highlighted DC’s inconsistent batting performances, noting that several key players have failed to deliver regularly, which has added to the team’s struggles in IPL 2026.
Meanwhile, he also analysed Punjab Kings’ recent dip in form, stating that their back-to-back losses have been linked to the poor performance of their opening pair. He compared their situation to Sunrisers Hyderabad’s struggles in the previous season, where inconsistent starts from key batters affected overall results.
