Mohammad Kaif has slammed Akshar Patel for pointing fingers at his teammate in public. Kuldeep Yadav During Delhi Capitals’ tough IPL 2026 campaign. Despite keeping their slim playoff hopes alive with a thrilling three-wicket win over Punjab Kings in Dharamsala on Monday, Delhi Capitals are under pressure after losing seven of their 12 matches this season. Questions have also surrounded their spin department, particularly the performances of Axar and Kuldeep.
After Delhi’s earlier defeat against Chennai Super KingsAksar had spoken openly about Kuldeep’s struggles, which Kaif felt should not have happened. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif said that veteran captains avoid bringing players together in public, especially with Kuldeep’s proven track record. Kaif said, “A sensible captain never names or demeans his player in public. He doesn’t blame him openly. I can understand that Kuldeep has gone through a tough time this season – he hasn’t bowled that well and hasn’t taken many wickets. But since he joined Delhi, he has been a proven bowler.” Kaif further backed Kuldeep’s long-term value, highlighting his consistency over the years in both the Delhi and India formats. “Forget just the IPL; even if you talk about India in ODIs or T20Is, they have performed consistently. Yes, this season has been a little quiet for them and their bowling has not been the best. But you should never name a player openly. Instead, you should just say that things have not gone well as a team,” he added. Interestingly, Aksar himself knocked out the captain during Delhi’s dramatic chase against Punjab Kings. Chasing 211, after DC slipped to 33/3, Axar scored 56 off 30 balls and formed a vital partnership with David Miller to revive the innings. After the win, Axar praised the character shown by his side and insisted that Delhi are playing good cricket despite failing to win at crucial moments earlier in the season. Aksar said after the match, “I am saying that we are a good team, playing good cricket but not winning in important moments.” “I’m really happy with how we played and hopefully we can keep playing like that.” He also praised the youth in the squad, adding: “Given the kind of cricket we are playing and the bench strength we have, the future is in good hands. It is a good sign for the youth to stand up in such circumstances.”
