Delhi Capitals owner hints at stripping Axar Patel of captaincy next season

Delhi Capitals (DC) co-owner Parth Jindal expressed his disappointment after the team's elimination from the IPL 2025 playoff race following their loss to Mumbai Indians (MI). Jindal admitted the team's poor performances in the second half of the tournament and hinted at changes for the next season.

Delhi Capitals’ hopes of reaching the IPL 2025 playoffs came to an end after a crushing defeat to Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on May 21. DC were outplayed by the Hardik Pandya-led team and lost by a margin of 59 runs, which confirmed their elimination from the marquee tournament.

There Will Need to Be a Lot of Introspection - Parth Jindal

Parth Jindal shared a heartfelt message following the team’s defeat to Mumbai Indians. Jindal acknowledged some positives from the campaign. He also hinted at potential changes, stating that a lot of introspection would be required to address several issues within the squad.

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"Sorry to all @DelhiCapitals fans - like you, i too am reeling from the second half of the season. What started so well ended extremely poorly. There are positives to take from this campaign but for now, all focus on the next game which we need to win. Post the season there will need to be a lot of introspection on a lot of aspects," Jindal wrote on X.

Sorry to all @DelhiCapitals fans - like you i too am reeling from the second half of the season. What started so well ended extremely poorly. There are positives to take from this campaign but for now all focus on the next game which we need to win. Post the season there will…

— Parth Jindal (@ParthJindal11) May 21, 2025

Mumbai Indians scored 180 runs for the loss of five wickets. In response, Delhi Capitals were bowled out for just 121 runs in 18.2 overs. Mumbai secured their place as the fourth and final team to advance to the IPL 2025 playoffs.

Opening at the Top Was a Worry for Us - Hemang Badani

Delhi Capitals head coach Hemang Badani opened up about the team's struggles at the top of the order during the post-match press conference. He stated that the opening combination had been a consistent issue throughout the season.

"A settled opening pair is only possible when your opening pair gives you a start," Badani told the reporters.

"If you don't get starts, you are bound to make changes to try and fill that gap, fill that void. While other sides have had great powerplay with the bat, we haven't had those, unfortunately. Opening at the top was a worry for us."

Delhi Capitals Crash Out of IPL 2025 After Promising Start

Delhi Capitals began IPL 2025 on a high note, winning their first four matches. They were at the top of the points table in the first half of the tournament.

However, Delhi’s form declined in the second half of the season. They struggled to find consistency and suffered four consecutive losses, which impacted their chances of making the playoffs. The team’s batting and overall performances failed to match the standards set earlier in the tournament.

They secured six wins and six losses after 13 games in the tournament. Delhi will look to finish the season positively in their final match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on May 24. The team and fans will hope to end the disappointing second half of the season.

Also read: Wasim Jaffer picks India squad for England Test and New Test Captain