Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has raised concerns over the continued exclusion of Prithvi Shaw and Abishek Porel from the playing XI of Delhi Capitals during IPL 2026.
Pathan’s remarks came after Delhi’s disastrous batting performance against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where DC suffered a humiliating nine-wicket defeat on Monday.
DC Collapse Sparks Selection Debate
Opting to bat first, Delhi Capitals endured one of the worst starts in IPL history. The team slumped to 8/6 inside the Powerplay, following devastating spells from Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood, who tore through the top order.
With wickets tumbling rapidly, DC were left struggling to build partnerships early in the innings — a collapse that has reignited questions about team selection decisions.
Abishek Porel, who entered the match as an Impact Substitute, eventually emerged as Delhi’s top performer. He added 35 runs for the seventh wicket alongside David Miller and **19 runs with Kyle Jamieson, helping Delhi post a total of 75 runs before being dismissed by Hazlewood in the 17th over.
Porel finished with 30 runs off 33 balls, the highest score in an otherwise disappointing batting display.
Pathan Demands Answers on Team Selection
Reacting to Delhi’s batting collapse, Irfan Pathan took to social media platform X to question the team’s decision-making.
He said the omission of both Shaw and Porel from the starting XI was difficult to understand, especially given Delhi’s fragile batting line-up.
“We discussed Prithvi Shaw & Abishek Porel during our pre-show. Want to understand the thinking behind not playing at least one of them,” Pathan wrote.
His remarks reflect growing criticism of Delhi Capitals’ selection strategy amid inconsistent performances this season.
Shaw Yet to Play Despite Domestic Form
The absence of Prithvi Shaw has particularly drawn attention. The explosive opener was re-signed by Delhi Capitals after previously being released due to poor form.
Interestingly, Shaw had gone unsold in the previous IPL auction before rediscovering his rhythm in domestic cricket, which prompted Delhi to bring him back into the squad.
Despite that return, Shaw has not played a single match in IPL 2026 so far.
Meanwhile, Abishek Porel — who scored 327 runs and 301 runs in the previous two IPL seasons — had also not featured in any match before this appearance as an Impact Substitute.
Historic Collapse Adds to DC’s Worries
Delhi Capitals’ collapse also placed them in an unwanted record list.
According to CricViz, DC became only the second team in IPL history to lose six wickets inside the Powerplay in a full-length match.
The only previous instance occurred in IPL 2011, when Kochi Tuskers Kerala were reduced to 29/6 against Deccan Chargers.
Coincidentally, both collapses happened on April 27, adding a rare statistical parallel to the embarrassing defeat.
Mounting Pressure on Delhi Capitals
Delhi Capitals now face mounting pressure to stabilise their batting line-up and reassess team combinations as the tournament progresses.
With experienced voices like Irfan Pathan questioning tactical decisions publicly, the franchise may need to reconsider its selection strategy — particularly regarding young players like Prithvi Shaw and Abishek Porel — if they hope to revive their campaign.