Delhi Capitals lost to CSK by eight wickets in IPL 2026, with Sanju Samson scoring an unbeaten 87. Coach Hemang Badani faced criticism for poor selection and tactical decisions.
DC slumped to 155/7 on a spin-friendly surface, exposing their fragile batting.
Sanju Samson masterclass exposes Delhi's selection blunders as CSK cruise to eight-wicket win
Delhi Capitals once again failed their own home crowd on Tuesday evening at the Arun Jaitley Stadium as they were beaten by Chennai Super Kings, thanks to a Sanju Samson classic, which saw the batsman score 87* off 52 balls.
On a surface that demanded patience and perseverance, the home side crumbled their way to 155 for seven.
The collapse was not sudden. It was the cumulative result of a batting order that never found its footing, on a pitch where the ball was gripping and turning enough to trouble anyone who did not apply themselves properly.
Pathum Nissanka departed for 19 off 15 deliveries, and KL Rahul followed soon after with just 12 runs from 13 balls. At 69 for five inside 11 overs, Delhi were in serious danger of being bowled out for something truly embarrassing.
Q&A
What were the key factors in Delhi Capitals' loss to CSK in IPL 2026?
Delhi Capitals struggled with poor selection and tactical decisions, leading to a total of 155/7 on a spin-friendly surface.
Who criticized Hemang Badani after the Delhi Capitals' defeat?
Hemang Badani faced sharp criticism from fans and analysts for his coaching decisions during the match.
How did Sanju Samson perform in the match against Delhi Capitals?
Sanju Samson scored an unbeaten 87, playing a crucial role in CSK's comfortable eight-wicket victory.
What was the batting performance of Delhi Capitals in the match?
Delhi Capitals posted a total of 155/7, which was deemed inadequate on a spin-friendly pitch.
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Tristan Stubbs kept them afloat with 38 off 31, and Sameer Rizvi's 40 not out off 24 balls helped them reach 155.
The anger directed at coach Hemang Badani was not just about the performance; it was about the thinking that produced the team selection and tactical calls.
Critics pointed to a roster that contains genuine Indian batting firepower in Prithvi Shaw, Nitish Rana, and Navdeep Saini, yet chose to persist with Nissanka at the top in conditions clearly suited to spin hitters.
In a baffling decision, David Miller was left out entirely. Whereas, Delhi chose to play Karun Nair ahead of Sameer Rizvi. The logic was questioned as Rizvi is at his most dangerous against spin, not pace.
What did the fans and experts say about Hemang Badani?
Former Indian cricketer @doddaganesha said: "There’s so much Indian batting talent available in Delhi’s camp. They can so easily open with Shaw/Rana/Porel along with KL, & have Miller in the middle order. Instead, the geniuses play Nissanka at the top & drop Miller. Tell me, how can this be a serious cricket team? #IPL2026."
In another scathing tweet, he wrote: "Delhi doing a Delhi. Again. The consistency with which they do this is unbelievable #IPL2026."
While a cricket fan @Jeetv27 wrote: "DC's decision-making: - Kept exposing Sameer Rizvi early to pace when he is stronger vs. spin. Used Porel as an Impact Sub vs. RCB when Karun Nair should've walked in to counter pace-friendly conditions. Spin-friendly conditions + CSK | DC decide to play Karun over Rizvi."
The Cricket News Opinion: Badani must answer for these calls
DC have won just four out of their 10 matches, and Badani will be under the microscope. Delhi has the personnel to be competitive on a turning track; they simply did not use them correctly.
Badani needs to offer clear, logical explanations for why Miller sat out, why Nissanka opened on that surface, and why Rizvi's role keeps shifting. A coach's job is to give the team the best possible chance before the first delivery. On Tuesday, that did not happen.
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