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KL Rahul Silently Dominates as Delhi Capitals Fall Short Despite Explosive Start
KL Rahul doesn’t always command the spotlight, even when he’s scoring quickly and smartly. That was once again the case in Delhi Capitals’ (DC) IPL 2026 clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) — a game DC ultimately lost despite Rahul’s blistering 57 off just 34 balls.
While Tristan Stubbs finished the job with an unbeaten 60 off 47, it was Rahul who set the tone early, particularly with a stunning display of power and precision against Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood.
Rahul Takes on Hazlewood: No Fear, All Execution
Hazlewood, known for his metronomic accuracy and economy (8.29 across 42 IPL games), is not a bowler most batters look to attack freely. But Rahul had other plans.
On the very first ball of Hazlewood’s over, with length just around off stump, Rahul stepped in and launched a towering six over the covers. The message was clear: he wasn’t holding back.
Hazlewood regrouped and kept things tight, but when he returned for his next over, Rahul was ready again. The first delivery — one angling into the batsman — was dispatched over square leg for another huge six. He wasn’t done: two boundaries followed in the same over, including a sharp cut past point and a well-executed ramp shot between short third and point.
The sequence demonstrated Rahul’s growing confidence and adaptability — a far cry from the batter once labeled as strike-rate challenged.
Expert Takes: Why Rahul Thrives Against Hazlewood
On ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut, former captain Aaron Finch highlighted the technical symmetry between the two players.
“He came after him early first ball, he pumped him over cover for six. He [Rahul] had a decent match up against Hazlewood. He’s probably the one player whose game really suits a bowler like Hazlewood, where he’s in and around that off stump… Another guy with good Test batting technique. So yeah, that was a crucial innings. He just found the boundary every time he needed one.”
Ambati Rayudu echoed the sentiment, noting Rahul’s ability to create room and exploit the off side — a subtle but effective strategy against Hazlewood.
“Hazlewood generally — I wouldn’t say he struggles — is slightly easier to play when you take a little bit of room and try and play on the off side. I think Rahul does that beautifully. That is his strength. He played a very, very good knock. He set the innings up for DC.”
Numbers Tell a New Story
Rahul’s strike rate this season sits at an impressive 168.00 — a significant leap from his career IPL average of 136.83. Across five innings, he’s amassed 168 runs, placing him joint-second on DC’s run charts behind only Tristan Stubbs (169). His only peer in terms of explosiveness on the team is Ashutosh Sharma, who scored 19 off 10 balls in a single appearance.
With 5390 IPL runs to his name over 141 innings, Rahul ranks seventh on the all-time run-scorers list. But this season could mark a shift — a transformation from anchor to aggressor.
What’s Next for KL Rahul?
Rahul fell just after the halfway mark of the chase, leaving Stubbs to steer DC home. But his impact was undeniable.
If Rahul can maintain this blend of elegance and aggression — finding boundaries precisely when needed — he may no longer be the ‘invisible’ star. Instead, he could emerge as one of the most quietly dominant forces in this IPL season.
One thing’s for sure: when the match demands a calculated assault, KL Rahul is no longer hesitating to answer the call.
