Delhi Capitals batting mainstay KL Rahul was thrilled to surpass the 500-run threshold in the 2026 Indian Premier League, but he claimed he still didn’t really understand the format.
“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 I don’t think I have completely cracked it as this sport demands more. Very clear message from the coach and the captain that they wanted me to play with a certain SR,” PTI quoted Rahul as saying after DC’s five-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals in Delhi on Sunday.
Rahul acknowledged, though, that it would have been preferable if DC had been able to record a few more victories.
“If we had a few more wins, it would’ve felt even more special. 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,” he added.
RCB’s seasoned pace combo of Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar received acclaim from Rahul for demonstrating that discipline and consistency can still thrive in modern T20 cricket, even without depending on extreme variations or unconventional bowling techniques.
Both Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar, according to Rahul, maintain composure under duress and keep bowling a straightforward but efficient line and length.
“In today’s T20 cricket, everyone talks about having a unique bowling style or an X-factor. But Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are very simple, traditional bowlers. Yet, year after year, they keep succeeding and troubling batters. That tells us that you don’t always need to try something different. Simple things work if you do them consistently and under pressure. That is what I admire about Josh and Bhuvi,” Rahul said on JioStar.
Even after being hit for runs, he continued, they don’t alter their strategy; instead, they concentrate on hitting the stumps and making batters make mistakes. Rahul claims that this consistency makes them extremely effective throughout an extended IPL season by enabling them to use all means of dismissal—bowled, LBW, and caught behind—during their periods.
“With many bowlers, if you hit them off their good ball, they panic and try something new. But with Josh and Bhuvi, no matter what you do, they stick to their plan. They keep attacking the stumps. Every ball is aimed at a length where you can be bowled, LBW, or caught behind. They always keep all three modes of dismissal in play.”
“Over a long IPL season, that consistency of doing the simple things right is what brings them success and makes them so hard to face,” he added.
