If Delhi Capitals had not lost the match against the Gujarat Titans by one run in IPL 2026, perhaps the Delhi team would be in the playoffs today. The Delhi team finished in sixth place with 14 points. We might think that the Delhi Capitals had 14 points, and that's why they couldn't get a playoff ticket. But if you look closely at the IPL 2026 season, the Delhi Capitals could have easily had 16 points, and the team would have been a playoff contender. However, due to just one run, the entire season was ruined for Delhi. Because of one run, the team possibly lost two points, and thus finished the season in sixth place, whereas they could have been in the top 4.

Actually, the Delhi Capitals had won their first two matches. The team was close to winning the third match as well. In the final over, DC needed 13 runs. They were chasing a target of 211 runs. Prasidh Krishna was bowling for the Gujarat Titans. On the first ball, Vipraj Nigam hit a four. On the next ball, he got out. Kuldeep Yadav was the new batsman, who took a single on the third ball. On the fourth ball, David Miller hit a six and almost brought the match under their control.

Now, Delhi needed two runs off the last two balls to win. David Miller was on strike. Miller played the ball towards deep square leg. A single could have been easily taken, but Miller did not run. On the final ball, they tried to take a single via a bye, but Kuldeep Yadav was run out. This is how Delhi lost the match by one run. Now the question arises that if David Miller had taken that one run, perhaps Delhi could have also qualified for the playoffs.

If David Miller had taken that one run, the match would have been tied. On the last ball, Kuldeep Yadav could have taken a run. If not, Miller could have sprinted to the keeper's end for a bye. Even if he had gotten out, the match would have at least gone to a Super Over, where they would have had a chance to win. However, that one error from Miller cost Delhi two points. This also spoiled Delhi's momentum, and the team lost the next match as well.

Delhi would have had 16 points if they had won that match. With 16 points, their contention would have been strong. However, Rajasthan Royals still have a better net run rate, but who knows — Delhi might have found their rhythm after winning that match, gone on to win more matches, or won matches by bigger margins. But that did not happen. Now, the Delhi Capitals have finished the season in sixth place.