Delhi Capitals have been very inconsistent

New Delhi: Delhi Capitals assistant coach Ian Bell has called for greater consistency and adaptability from his side after another erratic IPL 2026 campaign, admitting the franchise has struggled to turn its home ground into a fortress despite flashes of brilliance through the season.

Ahead of Delhi Capitals’ clash against Rajasthan Royals, Bell reflected on the team’s fluctuating performances, pointing to their inability to sustain momentum as a major reason behind their disappointing run.

“I think just being very inconsistent is one thing,” Bell said in a pre-match press conference. “We scored 265 here and then followed that up by getting bowled out for 70. You can’t win competitions if you’re that inconsistent and I think we have to accept that reality.”

While there has been considerable discussion around the nature of the Delhi pitches this season, Bell refused to use conditions as an excuse, insisting both teams play on the same surface.

The former England batter acknowledged Delhi’s long-standing struggles at home and said the side had held internal discussions about improving performances in front of their supporters.

“The guys are working extremely hard and there is no doubt that in front of your home fans you want to make this a fortress,” Bell said. “History probably tells you that not just this season, but in years gone by as well, it has not been an easy venue for Delhi to win games.”

Bell also stressed the importance of ending the campaign positively and giving fans something to cheer about in the final home fixture.

On the batting front, Bell highlighted the lack of stability in Delhi’s top order compared to the leading teams in the tournament. He said constant chopping and changing in the batting lineup had hurt the franchise’s rhythm.

“When you look at the top four teams at the moment, there is a lot of consistency in the batting lineup,” Bell observed. “The combinations haven’t quite worked for us.”

However, Bell reserved praise for KL Rahul, who has been among Delhi’s standout performers this season. According to Bell, Rahul has successfully evolved his T20 approach by increasing his scoring rate while maintaining consistency.

“KL has again had a fantastic year. He’s increased his strike rate, which is what a lot of people asked him to do,” Bell said. “He’s a really intelligent cricketer and he knew what he needed to do to keep evolving his game.”

Bell added that Rahul’s professionalism and work ethic had made a strong impression within the squad, comparing his mindset to players such as Kevin Pietersen and Joe Root.

“The impressive thing with players like him and Virat is that after playing so much cricket, they still want to improve and get better,” Bell said, referring also to Virat Kohli.

Bell also backed aggressive youngsters such as Ashutosh Sharma and experienced campaigner David Miller, saying their presence gives Delhi a dangerous middle-order combination.

At the same time, Bell acknowledged that no batter apart from Rahul had cemented his place through consistently match-winning displays.

“I don’t think anyone quite yet has made himself undroppable by performance,” Bell admitted. “Any coaching staff wants to give clarity and confidence in selection, but players have to be able to take the opportunity.”

Despite Delhi’s inconsistent results, Bell insisted the dressing-room atmosphere remained positive and united.

“When we’re representing Delhi Capitals, we have a responsibility to go out there and put in the best performance we have,” he said. “We have to make sure the positivity around training remains high, we stay really close as a unit and look after each other.”

Bell also spoke glowingly about teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi, describing the Rajasthan Royals batter as a “scary talent” and predicting a future India call-up.

“The talent is absolutely scary and we want to get him out early,” Bell said. “When you play Rajasthan Royals, I think he’s the prized wicket.”

Bell noted that opposition teams would increasingly develop plans against the youngster but backed Suryavanshi to evolve under the guidance of coaches such as Trevor Penney and Kumar Sangakkara.

“There’s no doubt people will start coming up with plans against him and then it becomes about evolving,” Bell said. “But he’s got so much natural talent and amazing people guiding him.”

The former England batter also weighed in on Jofra Archer and England’s cautious workload management around the fast bowler ahead of the Test season.

Bell said England supporters understandably wanted Archer back in Test whites but added that careful management was essential considering the pacer’s injury history.

“At the moment in the IPL, he looks back to his absolute best,” Bell said. “But from a medical point of view and with his injury history, it’s important that you don’t just shove him straight in.”

Bell emphasised that Archer remained a key figure for England’s future campaigns, including the Ashes and major ICC tournaments.

Discussing the broader direction of T20 cricket, Bell said modern teams must embrace aggression but also develop the ability to adapt to varying surfaces.

“Plan A is to be ultra aggressive,” he said. “You’re not going to win T20 cricket anymore by playing safe and building foundation. But I think the best teams can adapt.”

Bell pointed out that Delhi’s home conditions have occasionally required a more measured approach, especially on slower wickets where power-hitting alone is not enough.

“If the ball is turning and it’s a bit tacky, then you have to adapt,” he explained. “That’s where we have to be better, certainly here at home.”

Bell also offered strong support to captain Axar Patel, who has endured an inconsistent season with both bat and ball.

“It’s been really important to support him and get around him,” Bell said. “He’s an important player not just for this franchise, but for India as well in T20 cricket.”

The Delhi Capitals coach praised Axar’s character and leadership qualities, expressing confidence that the all-rounder would finish the tournament strongly after showing signs of returning touch in recent matches.

“He’s the kind of person you want in your dressing room,” Bell said. “We want to help him as leaders of the team.”

Tags : Delhi Capitals, Cricket, IPL 2026, Ian Bell, Rajasthan Royals, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli