Star batter KL Rahul has been in supreme form in the ongoing Indian Premier League, dismantling the perception that he is better suited to the longest format of the game. In the IPL 2026, KL Rahul, representing Delhi Capitals, has churned out some eye-catching knocks, displaying sensational batting elegance. His every innings has reflected the masterclass of modern T20 batting. So far, Rahul has piled up 433 runs in nine matches, reaming the leading run-scorer for Delhi Capitals. KL's most spectacular knock in the IPL was against Punjab Kings last month, where he knocked off a classy 152* off 67 balls, becoming the only Indian player to register the highest individual score in the IPL. He went past Abhishek Sharma, who earlier held this record with a score of 141.
“Ten years ago, I would have given anything to be part of a T20 team. I was never rated as a T20 player or even considered a good white-ball player; I was branded a Test player. So, to break out of that mould, develop my white-ball game and come this far is something I’m really proud of. Along the way, I’ve made mistakes, and there are things I could have done better,” KL Rahul said on JioStar show 'Superstars'.
“But what I’m proud of is that I’ve given my absolute best every time I’ve played and prepared as well as I could to give myself the best chance to succeed. That’s sport; things won’t always go your way.” Rahul said.
“You have to take it in your stride and enjoy the journey... Whenever I feel low about what I haven’t achieved, I remind myself of what I have, and it gives me perspective. I still have some time left. So, I’ll keep trying my best and see how many trophies I can win," he said.
KL Rahul also emphasised that T20 cricket has changed over the years and how he has adapted to the aggressive brand of cricket. In the past, Rahul's strike rate in T20s had been a topic of discussion, however he has been very much successful in silencing his critics. Notably, Rahul has been out of India's T20I set-up since 2022.
“T20 cricket has evolved over the last two or three years, especially in the IPL. You can see patterns in how teams are winning, and recently, teams that win the Powerplay often go on to win the game. A few years ago, games were usually decided between the 14th and 20th overs. The Powerplay was always important, but now it carries even more weight. For me, personally, it’s something I’ve had to adapt to for the team. This season, the messaging from the team management was very clear. They spoke to me before the IPL and wanted me to bat at the top of the order and play with freedom. Teams are aiming for upwards of 60 in that phase. Having that clarity gave me time to think about how to achieve it within my skill set,” Rahul said.