Even as he continues to climb the league’s run rankings, Delhi Capitals opener KL Rahul has made it clear that personal achievements are meaningless without titles, stating that his greatest goal is to emulate MS Dhoni’s collection of five IPL trophies.
Rahul downplayed the accomplishment and reaffirmed his team-first philosophy after recently surpassing Dhoni on the league’s all-time run-scorers chart.
“I didn’t even realise I had gone past Mahi bhai. Personal milestones are good. They reassure me that I am on the right track. But what would truly make me happy is winning as many trophies as MS Dhoni,” PTI quoted Rahul as saying on JioStar.
“Cricket is a team sport. You want to win trophies. You want to be part of successful sides. That has always been my goal.”
The stylish right-hander also talked about his outstanding record versus Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, which he attributed to an emotional bond with his home ground.
“I’ve thought about whether there’s a switch I use against RCB, but I haven’t found an answer. Chinnaswamy is very special to me. I grew up there, and something just clicks when I play at that venue,” he said.
“So, a psychological switch happens when I go there. It’s not just against RCB. I’ve done well in international games there too. Some stadiums just give you a good vibe and make you feel you’ll do well.”
Rahul also praised India’s new crop of batters for their bold style, highlighting how their aggressive mentality is revolutionizing T20 batting.
“They don’t fear reputations – whether it’s someone like Jasprit Bumrah or Pat Cummins. They just see the ball and want to hit it out of the park. That’s the mindset modern T20 cricket demands,” he noted.
“It’s phenomenal what the new-age cricketers are doing. Vaibhav Suryavanshi has taken world cricket by storm. Two centuries at the age of 15 is something I never even dreamt of doing.
“Ayush Mhatre has also done well, helping CSK score quick runs. The amount of talent coming up in India is scary, especially in T20 cricket. These fearless prodigies are changing the way T20s are played,” he added.
Rahul remarked that although switching positions in the batting order has helped him develop, opening the batting still gives him steadiness and clarity.
“Being an opener makes my life easier. It’s a role I’ve always done, and it gives me a clear game plan. But batting in different positions has helped me grow and understand my game better,” he added.
Rahul’s performance at the top is still crucial to the Delhi Capitals’ chances of making the playoffs now that they are firmly in the running.
