Delhi Capitals' reliance on Kuldeep Yadav questioned by Irfan Pathan amid performance slump
Irfan Pathan warns that conceding runs at an unsustainable rate on turning tracks undermines the franchise's bowling structure, even as the side secures a narrow win over Punjab Kings.
Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan has publicly flagged the Delhi Capitals' heavy dependence on spinner Kuldeep Yadav as a significant strategic liability. Speaking ahead of the franchise's upcoming fixtures, Pathan highlighted that Yadav's current performance metrics present a serious issue for the squad, particularly on surfaces offering assistance to spinners. This critique comes despite the Delhi Capitals securing a victory over Punjab Kings in their most recent match.
The former all-rounder pointed to specific statistical anomalies that undermine the team's bowling stability. In IPL 2026, Kuldeep Yadav has conceded runs at an economy rate of 10.4, a figure that represents the worst of his IPL career and surpasses previous highs recorded in 2019 and 2024. Furthermore, the left-arm wrist-spinner has failed to pick up a wicket in five of his nine outings this season, leaving the team without a crucial breakthrough option when the ball turns.
Pathan emphasised that the risk of conceding runs at such a high rate while failing to secure wickets constitutes a structural weakness. He noted that even on a turning track where the pitch offered some assistance, the spinner's inability to restrict runs or take the wicket required for a competitive balance is a major concern. The former player argued that while Yadav is undeniably a quality bowler, the expectation for a frontline spinner to perform better than 10 runs per over is standard for any team.
The criticism arises in the context of a recent high-pressure chase where the Delhi Capitals chased down a target of 211 against Punjab Kings, winning by three wickets with an over to spare. The match saw Punjab Kings reduced to 33/3 before Delhi's innings began, with the opposition racing to 51/0 in the opening three overs through Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh.
Delhi's success in that encounter was driven by aggressive batting rather than spin bowling, with Axar Patel scoring 56 off 30 balls and David Miller contributing 51 off 28 deliveries. Ashutosh Sharma added 24 off 10 balls, while Madhav Tiwari and Auqib Nabi provided crucial support in the final overs. Notably, Kuldeep Yadav was left out of the playing XI for this specific encounter against Punjab Kings.
While Pathan acknowledged that the team could have seen improved results if their bowling had performed according to potential, he stressed that the current form of the spinner is a problem that requires attention. The former cricketer suggested that the franchise's strategy of relying heavily on a spinner who is currently leaking runs at a career-worst rate is unsustainable for long-term success in the tournament.
