'Relax mode is over' - DC Coach Munaf Patel warns players ahead of CS…

Delhi Capitals are set to face the Chennai Super Kings in an important clash in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday, May 5.

Ahead of the crucial fixture, Delhi Capitals' bowling coach Munaf Patel said that the team plays every match with an intent to win and that its 'relaxed mode' is well over. The former India speedster stated that the Capitals want to embark on a winning streak with hopes of reaching the playoffs.

“You don't have any other option but to win the match. Obviously, we play every match to win, but now the relaxed mode is over. If you want to qualify, you have to win all the matches. We have won and we have forgotten that. If we keep remembering that, we will lose again. It is better that we forget that and move forward with the momentum of the winning match,” said Munaf in the pre-match press conference. hiddenlangkawi.club

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The Delhi Capitals have won only one game at home in IPL 2026. However, with the pitches expected to get slower, he backed his spin duo of Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav to excel in the coming matches.

“Our job is to motivate them. We tell them about their mistakes and make them improve. Once you are on the ground, my and Hemang's say is over as once you are on the field, the players have to do it all. You can motivate them as much as you want. But until they are motivated, or they can't bowl on their strength, or deliver as per the batter's weakness, you can't do anything," Munaf said.

"Confidence always comes from winning. I always believe that you can't give confidence by losing. You are talking about slow wickets - the spinners who play in the T20 World Cup, Kuldeep and Axar, they are there anyway. There is no question that they won't play because we have one of the best spin bowling units. We don't have a reason to complain about slow wickets. If the wickets are slow, it is better for us because we have top spinners and it will benefit us," he added.

Chennai Super Kings don't have a great away record this season in the IPL. They have played four away matches and faced defeat in three. The Super Kings and the Capitals are placed at No. 6 and 7, respectively, on the points table. Both of them have played nine games and have eight points in the bank.

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In a poignant tribute to one of its longest-serving pillars, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) recently hosted a formal farewell for former Head Physio Evan Speechly.

The ceremony marked the conclusion of an era, celebrating Speechly’s extraordinary 18-year contribution to the franchise from its inaugural season in 2008 through 2025.

Speechly, who is highly regarded for his work in sports medicine, was a part of South Africa`s football and rugby sides. The South African called time on his 18-year association with the current IPL champions.

Leading the commendations was Virat Kohli, who has worked alongside Speechly since the franchise’s inception. Kohli highlighted Speechly`s role as a foundational member of the organisation, emphasising the personal bond developed over nearly two decades.

“I’ve probably spent the most amount of time with you in the RCB setup. You’re one of the OGs. Apart from your hard work and professionalism, the thing that will always stand out is your kindness, care, and integrity. That’s something I’ll always carry with me. To say that you’ll always be a part of this family, you always have been, and you always will be. We’ll remember you fondly forever.” Virat Kohli said.

Director of Cricket Mo Bobat underscored the importance of formally acknowledging Speechly’s longevity and dedication. Under Speechly’s care, generations of elite athletes maintained peak physical condition, navigating the gruelling schedules of the IPL.

“Evan has been our lead physio for a huge amount of time. We wanted to bring him back to recognise his contribution, spend some time with him, and celebrate everything he’s done for RCB.” Bobat remarked.

I will always feel a part of RCB, says Speechly

Reflecting on his tenure, Speechly expressed a profound emotional connection to the city and the team. Having witnessed the evolution of the league firsthand, he noted that the franchise had become a second home.

"When I walked into the hotel, it felt like coming home," Speechly said. "In world cricket, many would hope for a single season with a franchise of this stature; I have been fortunate enough to have had eighteen. I will always feel a part of RCB."

As Royal Challengers Bengaluru continues its pursuit of excellence, the departure of Evan Speechly serves as a milestone, honoring the behind-the-scenes expertise and unwavering loyalty that define the franchise’s legacy.

Suryansh Shedge displayed some of the famous Mumbai khadoos attitude as he fought hard for table toppers Punjab Kings with a 29-ball 57 (3x4s, 5x6s), but couldn’t prevent a four-wicket defeat to Gujarat Titans, who successfully implemented their template once again of restricting the opposition to a score below 200 on a bowling-friendly pitch at home and then chasing it down.

Pacers Jason Holder (4-24), Kagiso Rabada (2-22), and Mohammed Siraj (2-28) set up the win for the hosts by restricting a power-packed Punjab to 163-9. GT won with four wickets and one ball to spare.

“That’s pretty much been our template for this season and in earlier seasons as well. We have got some solid players and the beautiful hope we’ve been playing with is that it’s not one individual doing it every single day. Different players are stepping up on different days,” Player of the Match Holder said at the post-match press conference.

Holder is the all-rounder that GT had missed since Hardik Pandya parted ways with them just before the 2024 season. The West Indian has now won back-to-back Player of the Match awards in their last two home matches. “I enjoy bowling here. It is a wicket where it has a little bit for the seamers. It’s not been one of those wickets where you see 220, 240, 260, and I think that’s fair cricket. Some of the other grounds are very, very difficult for bowlers as it’s just a run fest,” he said, going on to praise his pace partners.

“Credit to both KG and Siraj. They’ve been outstanding this entire competition. They’ve led the Powerplay and made it difficult for the opposition. That speaks volumes for their class. Very rarely have I seen two bowlers, bowling three overs back-to-back in a Powerplay. It says a lot about their calibre and quality. When they start, they set the tone in terms of what length works on a particular wicket. And then, it’s just a matter for all the other bowlers to follow.

Punjab’s Shedge, meanwhile, blamed himself for getting out off the last ball of Rabada’s spell. “I could have let that one go, in hindsight when I look at it. We would have probably scored 20-25 runs more,” he said.

16
No. of wickets claimed by Kagiso Rabada in the ongoing IPL — his best since the 2022 edition

Nine
No. of consecutive matches in which GT pacer Mohammed Siraj has claimed at least one wicket

29
No. of wickets claimed by GT pacers with short balls — the most by any team in the ongoing IPL

4-24
Jason Holder’s bowling figures on Sunday — his best in the IPL

11
No. of wickets claimed by Kagiso Rabada in the Powerplay in the ongoing edition — the most by any bowler

Three
No. of wickets claimed by Mohammed Siraj in GT’s first over

35-3
No. of runs scored by PBKS in the Powerplay vs GT on Sunday — their lowest-ever in the ongoing IPL

The Delhi weather has been swinging between hot and cool over the last few days with the Met department predicting thundershowers till Tuesday. Hosts Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings though will hope for a smooth passage of play at the Arun Jaitley Stadium here today. The two teams are currently in the middle of the pack, with very little separating them, and both will be looking to garner some much-needed points to rise in the table.

CSK, placed sixth, and DC, placed seventh, both have eight points after winning four and losing five out of nine games; the only thing separating them is net run-rate (CSK 0.005 and DC -0.895).

DC captain Axar Patel and CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad

DC bowling coach Munaf Patel said winning is the only option now, “You don’t have any other option but to win the match. Obviously, we play every match to win, but now the relaxed mode is over. If you want to qualify, you have to win all the matches. All bowlers are fit, [pacer] Lungi [Ngidi] is 100 per cent fit,” he said.

Earlier in the tournament, CSK beat DC in Chennai by 23 runs on April 11. MS Dhoni continues to remain unavailable.

CSK bowling coach Eric Simmons confirmed that Dhoni hasn’t travelled with the team: “An update on MS Dhoni is way above my pay grade. He’s not with us, but steadily improving. He hasn’t travelled with the team.”

All eyes will be on 20-year-old Kartik Sharma, who scored an unbeaten half-century as CSK beat Mumbai Indians by eight wickets at Chepauk recently. DC are also on a high, having beaten Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur by seven wickets. The return of ace pacer Mitchell Starc against RR was a major boost for DC. Starc, who was sidelined with shoulder and elbow injuries, joined DC more than a month after the tournament began and made an immediate impact, picking up 3-40 in his four-over spell.