According to Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel, the franchise intends to utilize ace batsman KL Rahul as an opener in the 2026 Indian Premier League, returning him to a position where he has previously excelled.
Rahul batted in the middle order last season, according to Patel, to keep the squad balanced because Delhi had two overseas players who were better suited for the top order. He claimed that putting foreign players in the middle order would have given them greater exposure to spin bowling, which is a common strategy used by teams during that stage.
“Last year, he was playing in the middle order because of our team combination. The players we had there were two foreign players, who could play in the top order, and, if you make foreign players play in the middle order, then teams use spin more,” Axar reasoned.
Rahul has a proven track record as an opener and can deliver reliable starts in Twenty20 cricket, which relieves pressure on middle-order hitters, he continued.
“He has always been good in the opening slot and has made a lot of runs. And if you get a good start in T20 cricket, then it becomes easier for the batters to follow. We will keep him as an opener,” he added.
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will play Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28 to kick off the IPL, while Delhi Capitals will start their campaign on April 1 against Lucknow Super Giants at Lucknow.
Rahul is one of the few IPL batsmen with over 4,000 runs as an opener. At an average of 49.64, he has amassed 4,418 runs in 103 games. Shikhar Dhawan (6,362), David Warner (5,910), Virat Kohli (5,009), Chris Gayle (4,480), and Faf du Plessis (4,004) are among the other cricketers on this list.
Jake Fraser-McGurk and du Plessis opened for Delhi in the first half of the previous season, but Rahul advanced later in the competition after Fraser-McGurk’s form declined. Rahul gave outstanding efforts at the top even if the squad did not make it to the playoffs.
