KL Rahul looks like a guy who hit the reset button and right now, he’s in control. After missing the start of IPL 2025 to welcome his child, he’s come back and hasn’t missed a beat. On Tuesday night, against his old team LSG, he put on another calm, match-winning show: 57 off 42 deliveries. That’s three half-centuries in just seven outings, and with 323 runs to his name, he’s currently leading Delhi Capitals’ run tally.
But here’s what stands out: he seems lighter. Focused. At ease.
Cheteshwar Pujara said it best Rahul didn’t drag last season’s mess with him. That chapter with Lucknow? Shut. And honestly, it shows. “He’s mature,” Pujara said during an ESPNcricinfo chat. “He’s not stuck on what went wrong. He’s just enjoying batting.”
And maybe that’s what’s different. He’s not captain anymore, he’s not overthinking he’s just playing. That freedom matters. The version of Rahul we’re seeing this season is all about clarity. When he walked in at 36 for 1 on Tuesday, he didn’t try to force things. He was on 19 off 20 balls by the halfway point, letting Abishek Porel do the early heavy lifting. Then he found his rhythm. Two quick sixes one off Bishnoi, one off Markram, and suddenly he was rolling. Brought up his fifty off 40 and wrapped it up with another clean hit over the ropes.
Nick Knight, the former England opener, brought up a point that clicks: sometimes taking the leadership badge off lets a player breathe. “We keep thinking the top performer has to lead. That’s not always the right call,” he said. And looking at Rahul’s calm, no-pressure approach now? Maybe it was just what he needed.
This wasn’t just Rahul’s night, though. Mukesh Kumar turned heads with 4 for 33, helping keep LSG to a below-par 159. Pujara was impressed, especially with how Mukesh handled the later overs. “That yorker to get Marsh? One of the best we’ve seen this season,” he said. “He’s someone who hunts wickets. He’s confident, and that shows.”
DC captain Axar Patel also deserves credit. His choices worked. He took the new ball himself against Marsh and Markram, gave Starc a break up front when the ball wasn’t doing much, then brought him back to break the game open. Smart, measured moves. Knight called it “a strong effort from the skipper.”
This version of KL Rahul, more focused, less burdened, has been key for Delhi. New baby, new team, no drama. And with every match, he’s showing why people have backed him for years. He’s not trying to make noise. He’s just letting his game speak, and right now, it’s loud enough.
