The Delhi Capitals’ lack of consistency this season was acknowledged by assistant coach Ian Bell, who also stated that the squad would try to improve in the remaining games by seizing important moments “ruthlessly” enough.
With four victories and seven defeats, DC is now ranked eighth in the standings and faces an early elimination from the 2026 Indian Premier League.
“I think it’s been inconsistent. We sit here now and look at a few games where we had our opportunities, and when you play in the IPL against world-class players, you have to take those moments. We probably haven’t done that ruthlessly enough,” Bell said ahead of DC’s clash against Punjab Kings.
The former England batter emphasized the value of consistency moving forward and stated that Delhi is still motivated going into their final three league games.
“We’ve got three big games, I think, for individuals and for the franchise. It’s really important that we come here now with the expectation of winning the next three games. That’s really important and the focus of the team.
“We’re very proud to represent DC, and the players will play everything for the badge and the fans. I think that’s really important for the rest of the season.
“We want to finish as high on the table as we possibly can, and that positivity is really important. But becoming more consistent is going to be really important for the team, not just for the end of the season but moving forward as well.”
Bell also commended KL Rahul for changing his style of play this season to focus more on attacking.
“With KL, like any good player, you’re always trying to improve, wherever you are in your career. He’s obviously recognised that he wanted to play with a bit more intent, and we’ve seen the numbers this year.
“They’ve been a huge step forward. But he’s a class player. The way he thinks about the game, the way he trains, he’s been a pleasure to be around and he’s led us with the bat incredibly well.”
Bell acknowledged that the batting unit hasn’t been consistent overall, though.
“It would be nice to have more consistent performers alongside him as well. There have been days where we’ve scored 260, and then the following game we get bowled out for 70. You can’t afford that at this level.
“I do believe in the talent in the group, but at IPL level, international level, you have to take those big moments and win them. You always have to be consistent. We want to give the players as much freedom as possible. We want to be an aggressive side.”
Additionally, Bell emphasized the impact of Australian pacer Mitchell Starc, describing his presence as crucial for the team’s younger players.
“He’s a proper professional and works extremely hard. When you watch him in the nets, he’s at full tilt. It’s great for the younger players to see how top players go about their business,” Bell said.
