Delhi Capitals’ IPL 2026 campaign continues to swing between extremes, and their batting inconsistency was once again exposed at Arun Jaitley Stadium. Just days after posting a record-breaking total at the same venue, DC found themselves in complete disarray against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

In their previous outing here, KL Rahul had headlined the show with a stunning unbeaten 152*, the highest individual score by an Indian batter this season. However, in a dramatic turnaround, Rahul managed just a single this time as DC collapsed early, losing half their side for under 10 runs in a shocking start.

The top-order failure once again put the spotlight on skipper Axar Patel, whose struggles with the bat have been a growing concern. Known for his all-round abilities and match-winning contributions in previous seasons, Axar has not been able to deliver consistently with the bat in IPL 2026.

WATCH – Bhuvneshwar Kumar Cleans Up DC Youngster With Stunning Yorker

Walking in under pressure with DC already reeling, Axar looked uncomfortable from the outset. He faced Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who was in full control with the new ball. After surviving a couple of testing deliveries, Axar edged one behind, handing Bhuvneshwar his third wicket of the night and deepening DC’s crisis.

The contrast in pitch conditions also played a role. Unlike the previous day game that offered a flatter surface, this match saw a pitch with more grip and variable bounce, making stroke play difficult. The ball skidded through unpredictably, further troubling DC’s batters.

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As frustration grew, fans took to social media to question Axar’s form and decision-making, reflecting the mounting pressure on the DC captain. With the season entering a crucial phase, Delhi Capitals will need urgent answers to address their batting collapse and regain momentum.

Axar Patel dismissed for duck – 0 off 3. 🦆

– Delhi Capitals 7-5 in 2.4 Overs. pic.twitter.com/YqO4p0iFco

— Maina Singh (@Maina_Singhx77) April 27, 2026

Axar Patel survived this and got caught behind on next ball. pic.twitter.com/8jb7aEkKIU

— Fan RCBians (@RcbianOfficial) April 27, 2026

nah man you can’t blame him anymore
you can only blame the whole management for buying players who can only play spin 😭
rizvi,axar and rana can’t play pace at all
that’s 50% of the batting lineup

— Yash (@barca_yash) April 27, 2026

3rd WICKET FOR BHUVNESHWER KUMAR

-AXAR PATEL DISMISSED FOR GOLDEN DUCK

– DC 7/5 #DCvsRCB । #RCBvsDC । #IPL2026 । #TATAIPL । #ViratKohli । #RajatPatidar । #KlRahul । #Hazlewood । #AxarPatel । #RoyalChallengersBengaluru । #PlayBold । #RCBFans । #RCB । #DelhiCapitals । #GOAT pic.twitter.com/g3IikyYBCj

— Infinite Info (@infiniteInfos) April 27, 2026

One more good thing to happen is that Kl might finally bat above axar in the indian odi team😌

— Knight (@elementary_talk) April 27, 2026

Axar patel as a captain is worse than Jadeja. And has been pathetic with bat bowl aur captaincy. DC need to sack him as soon as possible

— Wasim wasim (@Wasimwasim43565) April 27, 2026

Axar Patel thinks he can play the Swing of Bhuvi and Hazlewood inside Powerplay 🤣👏

— Jyotirmay Das (@dasjy0tirmay) April 27, 2026