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KL Rahul’s masterclass helps the Delhi Capitals (DC) recapture the winning momentum. Defeating the Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on May 17, DC claims its first win after going winless in 5 consecutive matches. With this win, DC remains in the race for the play-offs qualification.
A drop catch by Yash Punj early in the second innings dented RR’s plans for the match. After receiving the lifeline, KL Rahul went on to score a half-century for the winning cause. After the match, the DC opener explains his batting and the importance of the much-needed win.
KL Rahul played a magnificent knock vs RR
Rahul scored 56 off 42 while DC was chasing a stiff target of 194 at their home ground. The knock was a bit on the slower side, but it was a necessary one, as the batter remained strong on the track to stabilize the run chase.
As he remained firm on the track, his opening partner, Abishek Porel, got the license to play some big shots. With seven 4s and one 6, Porel scored 51 runs from 31 balls. KL Rahul’s 56-run innings was decorated with one four and three 6s.
Rahul is still hopeful about the play-offs
DC skipper Axar Patel also played his part well with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 34 in 18 balls. A late cameo by Ashutosh Sharma, unbeaten 18 off 5, conceals the victory for the Delhi Capitals.
"This one feels a little more special because I’ve scored 500 runs in previous seasons too, but this year I set out to achieve something else, which was to improve my strike rate and keep up with the modern demands of T20 cricket."
"So yeah, I’m quite pleased that I could do that. But if we had a few more wins, it would’ve felt even more special," KL Rahul told the broadcasters after the match, pointing out the team’s position on a thin rope.
“We still have an outside chance, so we’re hoping to win the next game, and maybe some other teams can help us out as well.. Yeah, it’s been a journey. I still don’t think I’ve completely cracked it. Sport is all about trial and error, experimenting, and being open to uncomfortable situations,” he said further to explain the scenario.
The star batter explains his batting role for the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026
The experienced batter stated that despite being a season campaigner, his focus remains on adapting to the situation. KL Rahul reveals that the coach and the captain of the Delhi Capitals asked him to maintain a certain strike rate to dominate the powerplay and the opposing team's bowlers.
“I’ve always tried to adapt to the demands of the game and do what the team asks of me. This season, the coach and captain had a very clear message before the tournament — they wanted me to play at a certain strike rate, dominate the power play, and dominate the bowling. So I tried to mould my game around that and do it for the team,” he added.
Read More: DC qualification scenario IPL 2026: Can DC still reach playoffs after win against RR?
