Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel has backed Sunrisers Hyderabad to go all the way in IPL 2026, saying.
The team’s explosive top order makes them one of the most dangerous sides in the competition heading into the playoffs.
SRH confirmed their place in the playoffs with a dominant 55-run win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their final league-stage match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. The comprehensive victory helped Hyderabad finish third on the points table after one of their strongest all-round performances of the season.
The Pat Cummins-led side will now take on Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator on May 27 at Mullanpur in New Chandigarh.
“I think SRH are a very strong side. If their top three get going, they become a formidable team,” Axar said after Delhi Capitals’ final league-stage game against Kolkata Knight Riders.
Delhi Capitals ended their IPL 2026 campaign in sixth place with 14 points from 14 matches, missing out on the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season. Despite winning their final three matches, DC could not recover from a poor middle phase of the tournament.
Reflecting on the season, Axar admitted Delhi failed to capitalise on crucial moments in several matches.
“You need to accept your mistakes to improve. We played good cricket in phases, but if we had handled one or two key moments better, the results could have been very different,” he said.
Delhi’s campaign suffered due to inconsistent performances in pressure situations, especially in losses against Punjab Kings and RCB. Fielding lapses and missed opportunities repeatedly hurt the side during crucial stages of the tournament.
One of the turning points came against Gujarat Titans, where Delhi failed to chase a modest target after a chaotic finish involving David Miller and Kuldeep Yadav in the final over.
Axar also spoke about the challenges of leadership in a high-pressure tournament like the IPL.
“I’ve learnt a lot about myself this season. As captain, you have to stay calm because your mindset affects the whole team. Even when things get frustrating, I try to control my emotions and help the group stay composed,” he added.
The IPL 2026 playoffs will feature RCB, Gujarat Titans, SRH and Rajasthan Royals. RCB will face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1, while SRH and Rajasthan Royals meet in the Eliminator. The IPL 2026 final will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium on May 31.
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