KL Rahul produced another fantastic season for the Delhi Capitals (DC) with his individual skills. As the opener of the versatile batter, who played as an opener for DC, scored 593 runs in 14 matches before signing out of the IPL 2026 season.
As a team, DC could not do much, but it was Rahul who remained the brightest performer for them in the season. Currently, the star keeper-batter is ranked fourth in the top run scorers list of IPL 2026. Former Team India batter Ambati Rayadu mentioned KL Rahul 'has been fantastic for any team that he has played for' during a discussion panel.
KL Rahul remains the top performer for the Delhi Capitals
In their last match of the season, Rahul played a 60-run knock off 30 balls with five 4s and four 6s. He was flawless even against Sunil Narine, who is still considered the mystery spinner. In the eighth over, when Narine came to bowl, Rahul sent him over the long-on cordon of the Eden Gardens, then in the following deliveries, the batter took down the ground route to smash a four.
"He was picking him [Narine] well, and also some of the shots were exceptional. The straight hits that he played against Narine were, I think, some of the best shots that we have seen so far against Narine in the season. I don't think anybody has taken on Narine as KL Rahul," Ambati Rayudu said on ESPNcricinfo TimeOut.
He has been a fantastic batsman for any team: Ambati Rayudu
Rayudu mentioned that not only against Sunil Narine, but Rahul was also equally effective against class pacers like Josh Hazlewood as well. The former cricketer believes that with KL Rahul as the main piece of the squad, the DC management should bring some quality cricketers to achieve better results in the Indian Premier League.
"It looks like he takes on all the big bowlers in the IPL. He has taken on [Josh] Hazlewood; he has taken on Narine. He is a class player, and Delhi needs to give him a team that wins him an IPL trophy because he deserves it. He has been a fantastic batsman for any team that he has played for. So he deserves the trophy, and hopefully he gets it soon,” he added.
Rahul improved his strike rate as well in IPL 2026
It was Rahul’s second consecutive season with the Delhi-based franchise. In the previous season, he secured 539 runs in 13 matches with an average of 53.90. The total aggregate was supported by a century and three 50s. In 2026, the 34-year-old registered one century and five half-centuries.
Along with his runs and averages, KL Rahul improved his strike rate as well, as per the demands in the modern Twenty20 format. Overall, 139.14 is his average strike rate in the Indian Premier League. In IL 2026, Rahul’s strike was 174.41, which shows his ability to deliver according to the needs of the circumstances and situation of matches.
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