Delhi Capitals grapples with wide variance in home pitches in IPL 2026

Comfort has eluded Delhi Capitals at home in IPL’s 19th edition. The Axar Patel-led franchise has won just one of its five matches at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Away from home, it has fared much better, notching up three wins in five games. Contributing to its struggles in Delhi has been the stark variation in surfaces, which has hindered DC from cultivating a consistent style of play in its own backyard.

The last three matches in the national capital offer pertinent examples. After being involved in a run-fest against Punjab Kings on a featherbed, where Shreyas Iyer’s side chased down a record 265 on April 25, Capitals’ clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru just two days later swung to the other extreme. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood extracted swing and seam movement, reducing the host to eight for six inside four overs. DC folded for 75 and lost by nine wickets.

On Tuesday night, the strip in use was on the slower side. DC’s batters failed to adapt quickly enough, allowing Chennai Super Kings to register an eight-wicket victory.

DC head coach Hemang Badani conceded that the lack of consistency in the home pitches was far from ideal. At the same time, the 49-year-old explicitly stated that franchises had no role in pitch preparation.

“We don’t have any control over the surfaces. There is a clear mandate from the BCCI that it looks after the surfaces and it is the one which ensures that no local side benefits. You play on what is presented to you,” Badani told reporters.

“Yes, it’s been a bit of an up-and-down curve for us to understand what we are going to get in Delhi. I think the whole competition is quite neutral that way. But ideally, yes, you want to have some consistency.”

Published on May 06, 2026