Ambati Rayudu reckons KL Rahul can “hit a boundary off any delivery”, yet the former India batter believes Rahul’s biggest tussle remains the frame of mind he takes to the crease. Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show after Delhi Capitals fell short by just one run against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, Rayudu unpacked the 92 from 52 balls that so nearly dragged Capitals to 211.
“Initially he was conservative, he was getting a look in. But he turned it on beautifully. And maybe that’s his role in the DC side, that’s their strategy that he needs to bat deep,” Rayudu observed, nodding towards a start of 20 from 17 balls that suddenly quickened when Rahul flogged Prasidh Krishna for 4, 6, 6, 4.
The shot-making never looked frantic. Rahul’s fifty arrived in 29 deliveries, and every time Titans thought they had the chase stitched, a crisp drive or a short-arm pull kept Delhi breathing. Rayudu, impressed but not surprised, added: “We all know that once he gets in, he has the game to play a boundary shot against any delivery. That has been Rahul’s specialty over the years. It’s just his mindset, how and when he wants to do it is what his battle has always been about.”
Rayudu expanded on that theme. “Because he has the game to take on the spinners, the fast bowlers as well as every length. So the challenge is the strategy he would come out to bat with.”
On Wednesday night the chosen route was the long game: Rahul marshalled the chase, nudging singles, punctuating them with the odd six, hoping someone would stay with him. No-one quite did. Even so, his 92 is the highest individual score of IPL 2026 to date, overshadowing Sameer Rizvi’s earlier effort for the same franchise.
“Today he wanted to bat deep,” Rayudu said. “He wanted to take it till the end and he has done a fantastic job. Don’t forget he’s played a beautiful innings.”
Rahul’s season had started badly — successive scores of 0 and 1 — yet Capitals still sit with two wins from three. Their next stop is Chepauk on Saturday, against Chennai Super Kings. A difficult venue, yes, but an informed Rahul may only need to tweak that inner strategy Rayudu keeps mentioning. If he does, bowlers of every pace and persuasion have work to do.
