Irfan Pathan Calls KL Rahul the Most Reliable Asset Ahead of IPL 2026
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New Delhi, March 27 (NationPress) Irfan Pathan, a former Indian cricketer, has praised wicketkeeper batsman KL Rahul for his remarkable consistency in the Indian Premier League (IPL), labeling him as the most reliable asset for any franchise.
Rahul has established himself as one of the tournament's most dependable players, having surpassed the 500-run milestone in seven of the past eight IPL seasons.
In the previous season, he amassed 539 runs while playing for Delhi Capitals and is expected to open the batting for the team this year.
“KL Rahul is the most reliable asset to achieve 500 runs each season. He consistently provides strong starts and is undoubtedly among the top talents in this league. While we sometimes discuss his strike rate, the primary focus should be on winning matches,” Pathan stated on his YouTube channel.
With an impressive IPL record, Rahul has accumulated a total of 5,222 runs across 145 matches. He also holds the record for the highest individual score by an Indian in IPL history, having scored an unbeaten 132 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) during IPL 2020 while representing Punjab Kings. The former captain of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) has notched five centuries and 40 half-centuries in the league.
Pathan has also shown support for Prithvi Shaw, who is returning to the Capitals, to join Rahul at the top of the batting order.
“They acquired him at a very favorable price. He transitioned from Mumbai to Maharashtra in domestic cricket and was the top run-scorer for Maharashtra in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Although he didn’t perform well in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he appears to be in good form. Players who went unsold last year often come back with something to prove, and I believe Prithvi Shaw will do just that,” the 41-year-old added.
The Delhi Capitals will kick off their season against LSG on April 1 at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.