Delhi Capitals haven't been the same since that fateful one-run loss to Gujarat Titans earlier this IPL season, and according to former India spinner Murali Kartik, the team is still carrying a "mental scar" from that defeat.

Speaking ahead of DC's must-win clash against a resurgent Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday, Kartik pointed out how that dramatic night at the Arun Jaitley Stadium completely derailed what had been a promising campaign. "DC won their first two matches this season, and there's nothing fundamentally wrong with their squad," Kartik explained on Cricbuzz. "But that one-run loss against GT—those two points—it's left a mental scar. I don't think they've recovered from it yet."

For context, Delhi had looked sharp in their opening games, winning both to start IPL 2026 on a high. Then came the gut-wrenching defeat to Gujarat, where David Miller controversially turned down a single before a final-ball run-out ended their chase. The ripple effects have been severe: since that loss, DC has managed just two wins in eight matches.

The team's form has been a rollercoaster of extremes—from failing to defend a massive 264 total to being bowled out for a paltry 75 in another game. "They lost after scoring 264, then they got bowled out for 75. At one stage they were 13-6," Kartik noted, highlighting the unpredictability that has plagued the Capitals.

Currently sitting seventh on the table with eight points from ten games, DC faces a daunting task: they need to win all four remaining matches to keep their playoff hopes alive. Their struggles at home have been particularly concerning, with batsmen faltering against quality spin on tricky surfaces, while bowlers have consistently leaked runs.

Meanwhile, KKR arrives in red-hot form, riding a three-match winning streak that includes a statement victory over table-toppers Sunrisers Hyderabad. For a Delhi side still nursing old wounds, Friday's encounter couldn't come at a more challenging time.