Delhi Capitals (DC) are reportedly set to permanently appoint KL Rahul as the opener for the IPL 2026 season. According to The Times of India, Rahul would also be the side’s first-choice wicketkeeper.
DC gave the middle-order keys to Rahul last year, asking him to bat at mostly number three and four to counter spin and pace the innings as a senior talisman. While he did brilliantly, scoring 371 runs in 10 innings at an average of 53 and a strike-rate of 146.06, DC’s various opening combinations didn’t work, with the likes of Karun Nair, and Jake Fraser-McGurk struggling to offer consistency.
As the season form dwindled, the franchise pushed Rahul to open the innings. He replied with a 65-ball unbeaten 112 against the Gujarat Titans and followed it up with knocks of 11 and 35.
Earlier in the day, former India batter Mohammad Kaif had also batted for Rahul to be given the top-order role.
“I think he will open, and he should open only. He has a fabulous record as an opener. If we talk about the last three or four years, his graph, when it comes to strike rate, has gone up a lot. I feel they shouldn’t get confused,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel.
“The problem is that they ask KL Rahul to bat at No. 4 or do the finishing role. He should go and play his game, and as an opener. They have David Miller and Tristan Stubbs as well this time. You open, and back your shots and game. A massive change was seen in his batting last year. He improved his game in the power play, and he alone won a few matches,” he added.
Picking the right opening partner for Rahul would be key, too. While Abhishek Porel and Nair are still there, DC also have Prithvi Shaw, who has done that role successfully in the past.
