Delhi\u2019s eight-wicket loss to Chennai Super Kings left it stuck in seventh spot in the 10-team league, with a negative \u200cnet run rate to boot. With only four games left in the regular season, Delhi has little \u200ctime to claim a top-four spot and a place \u200cin \u2060the playoffs.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s crunch time for us,\u201d Badani told \u2060reporters after his side posted a meagre 155 for seven and was overhauled with 2.3 overs to spare. \u201cIt\u2019s more like a knockout tournament for us right \u200bnow. We have to win \u200cfour in four to still have a chance to qualify. Everyone understands that in the dressing room and the dugout. Everyone knows that this is where we are now. \u200cIt\u2019s as simple as perform or perish.\u201d<\/p>\n
Electing to bat, \u200bDelhi slumped to 69 for five in 11 overs and never looked capable of putting up a substantial \u2060total. Chennai\u2019s Sanju Samson notched an unbeaten 87 to guide his side to a fifth win of the season that kept it one spot above Delhi.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought the game was lost in the first 10 overs when we did not get enough,\u201d said former India player Badani, who felt not enough of his players were performing at their best.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can have multiple conversations about permutations and combinations but when you \u200cplay good cricket, these things fall in place,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we were \u200bbowling well, the batting didn\u2019t click. If we\u2019re batting well, the bowling has been a bit poor. I \u2060won\u2019t single out a specific department that has done badly \u2060or poorly, but it\u2019s more the case that you want at least 60-70 per cent of your men turning up \u200con a given day. That has been missing. If we can try and get that in the next \u200bfew games, we should be okay.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Published on May 06, 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n