Ambati Rayudu says KL Rahul’s change in attitude – not a sudden discovery of new shots – is driving Delhi Capitals’ latest run of high-tempo totals. The former India batter, chatting on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out show, singled out Rahul’s assault on leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi during Friday night’s chase against Rajasthan Royals as the clearest evidence yet of that shift.
“He [Rahul] has always had the game,” Rayudu said. “He can take on any bowler at any time; it is just his mindset. Today we have seen a very, very good approach to his batting.”
Before the match Rahul had managed just eight runs off 12 deliveries from Bishnoi in previous IPL meetings. Chasing a steep 226, he changed tack completely, taking 26 from nine balls off his former Lucknow Super Giants team-mate, including two fours and two sixes. Rayudu felt the way Rahul dealt with a ball that was “slightly good-length or short-of-a-length” – standing tall and launching it straight down the ground – summed up both the quality of the pitch and the opener’s growing confidence.
“He went through a couple of shots against Bishnoi because he was sure that Bishnoi had the pace, and he could just stand in the crease and still go through with the shot,” Rayudu added. “That shot was still not on… That is why we are seeing him play such higher strike-rates in this tournament compared to few other seasons.”
Rahul finished 75 not out from 41 deliveries – a strike rate of 187.5 – to guide Delhi home by seven wickets with four balls to spare. After nine innings he leads the tournament scoring charts with 433 runs, three fifties and a century, but it is the strike rate of 185.83, comfortably his quickest in the IPL, that is earning fresh plaudits.
“The strike rate was a big talking point for a few years,” Rahul said after collecting the Player-of-the-Match award. “That’s something that I’ve really worked on. I’m happy that I’ve worked on that and I’m doing what’s required for the team, number one, and doing what modern T20 cricket requires. And yeah, that’s something that’s pleasing for me.”
For Delhi, the broader picture is encouraging. With David Warner still nursing a sore thumb and Shai Hope short of time in the middle, Rahul’s willingness to dictate terms early has papered over several cracks. Royals, meanwhile, may revisit their bowling plans; Bishnoi’s economy rate has climbed above nine an over this season, and opponents now appear less inclined to simply see him off.
There is still half a league campaign to play, and strike rates can dip as quickly as they rise. Yet, for the moment, Rahul has shown that tweaking a mindset can be as valuable as tweaking a technique – a small adjustment delivering sizeable returns.
