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Following the Delhi Capitals' loss to Chennai Super Kings on May 5, 2026, both his franchise coach and his childhood coach identified specific technical and mental reasons for Kuldeep Yadav's recent struggles. Delhi Capitals head coach Hemang Badani noted that Kuldeep has not been bowling at his "normal speeds" and has yet to strike peak form this season. His childhood coach, Kapil Pandey, observed that Kuldeep is "missing his length" and bowling too short, likely due to a dip in confidence. He also called his student on the eve of the match against CSK.
“I saw that he was a bit disturbed and called him after the game to tell him not to worry too much,” Pandey told The Indian Express. “He bowled well in his first two overs in which he conceded just 16 runs. It was only in the third that he lost the plot a bit and gave away 18 runs.”
Former player Manoj Tiwary suggested Kuldeep might be bowling with a "pre-determined mindset," fearing batters stepping out and consequently over-correcting by bowling short. Despite spin-friendly conditions at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, analysts noted Kuldeep found less turn than other spinners, which allowed batters like Sanju Samson to strike him for multiple sixes off the backfoot.
Kuldeep Yadav’s forgettable IPL 2026 performance
As of early May 2026, Kuldeep Yadav is enduring one of the most difficult phases of his career, with his numbers plummeting significantly compared to his standout 2022 and 2024 seasons. In five matches at the Arun Jaitley Stadium (DC’s home ground) this year, Kuldeep has struggled with the short boundaries. On May 5, 2026, even on a spin-friendly surface against CSK, he went wicketless while conceding 34 runs in just 3 overs.
Despite the slump, the Delhi Capitals management remains publicly supportive as they enter a "knockout" phase of the tournament. The captain admitted the team "missed their partner" in the middle overs, as Kuldeep’s inability to take wickets has forced Axar to bowl more defensively. Delhi Capitals now face a must-win scenario in their final four games against KKR, PBKS, and RR to keep their playoff hopes alive.
