Delhi Capitals batter Tristan Stubbs on Tuesday backed his side to carry the confidence from their record 226-run chase against Rajasthan Royals into their home fixture against Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The seventh-placed DC, currently on seven points, need a win to reach ten and strengthen their playoff prospects.

Stubbs on carrying momentum home

"The confidence has been there. We've had a couple shaky ones again before we scored 260, so the confidence wasn't there. But it is nice to get a win," Stubbs told broadcasters ahead of the match. "It seems like it's a common score, but it is still a really big score and a really good chase. So to bring that into today, to our home ground is great."

The role of middle-order depth

On his function as an overseas finisher, Stubbs highlighted the strength of DC's batting unit. "Batting in the middle there, I don't think my role changes much. Ashutosh is batting beautifully. So, it really gives you that confidence that he's still in the shed to come. Axar's still behind him. So it's a lot of batting, so it gives you confidence." The depth in the order, he suggested, relieves pressure on any single batter to finish the innings alone.

Past performances hold little sway

Stubbs, who scored 60 against CSK earlier in the season, cautioned against relying on history. "I don't think so. You get out there, new wicket. That was a really nice pitch that day, a bit of bounce. So, we don't know what we're going to get here. But a new wicket, you start on nought, and it's a fresh game. So yeah, we're excited. A bit of weather around, so you never know. But it's been a big game for both teams."

Rana on home-ground comfort

Top-order batter Nitish Rana spoke of the familiarity of playing at his home venue. "Actually, when you enter this atmosphere, I've been coming into this ground since childhood. So I wouldn't say that I don't feel nervous. You do feel nervous before every game. But yes, there is definitely a sense of comfort because at home a person feels more comfortable, and this is my home," he said. Rana's partnership with KL Rahul, he added, has been built on a shared cricket philosophy. "Before the season started, I had a lot of conversations with KL. I feel that our mindset towards cricket, or our approach towards a game, matches to a large extent. So that has definitely helped. The hope is that such partnerships continue to come, especially in crucial matches, and that they help us win."

Focus on controllables, not the table

When asked about a possible psychological edge against CSK, Rana redirected focus inward. "I think we should focus on controlling our own game – what we can control – rather than what the points table is saying, or how many wins or losses each team has in the tournament. Today's game is important, yes, but if we focus on all three departments and perform well in all three, then the result will definitely be in our favour." The message underscores DC's need to execute fundamentals rather than chase external narratives as they fight to stay in playoff contention.