IPL 2025: K.L Rahul Credits Wicketkeeping for Pacing His Innings in DC's Win over RCB
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Synopsis
Delhi Capitals' K.L Rahul, after keeping wickets, played a pivotal role in guiding his team to a six-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2025. His unbeaten 93 helped chase a target of 164 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Key Takeaways
- K.L Rahul scored an unbeaten 93
- Delhi Capitals secured their fourth consecutive win
- RCB dropped from 80/0 to 90/4
- Tim David's late innings was the highlight for RCB
- Team dynamics and wicket insights are crucial for performance
Bengaluru, April 11 (NationPress) Playing behind the stumps during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru innings provided Delhi Capitals' wicketkeeper-batter K.L Rahul with valuable insights into the wicket's behavior, aiding him in leading his team to a six-wicket victory in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 on Thursday.
Upon returning to his hometown, Bengaluru-native Rahul delivered a stellar unbeaten 93, marking his second consecutive half-century as he anchored the Delhi Capitals innings in pursuit of a target of 164. He smashed six sixes and seven fours during his 53-ball innings and formed a vital 111-run partnership with Tristan Stubbs (38 not out), securing DC's fourth win in four matches.
"It was a somewhat tricky wicket, but what aided me was being behind the stumps for 20 overs, observing how the wicket behaved. The ball sat well on the pitch but remained consistent throughout, with a single pace. I was clear about my shot selections, aimed for a strong start, and adjusted from there. It really depends on the conditions and the ground dimensions," Rahul remarked during the post-match presentation at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
He elaborated on how he managed to pace his innings by identifying specific areas to target for scoring.
"On a wicket like this, I understood which areas were effective. If I wanted to hit a big six, I knew the zones to aim for, and keeping gave me an insight into where other batters were dismissed and where they succeeded in hitting sixes. I was fortunate with the dropped catch. This is my ground, my home, and I know it better than anyone. My preparation always involves adapting to different wickets, even during practice," said Rahul.
RCB captain Rajat Patidar expressed disappointment over their batting performance, noting their drop from 80/0 to 90/4 early in their innings.
"The initial conditions we observed were quite different. We anticipated it would be a good batting track. We did not perform well. The batters were in a good mindset, showing intent. 80 for one, then 90 for four, is unacceptable on this pitch. We struggled to assess the conditions and the match situation," Patidar commented.
In their innings, RCB openers Phil Salt and Virat Kohli started explosively, reaching fifty in just the third over, marking the fastest team fifty in IPL history. However, once Salt was run out, they faltered against some exceptional bowling from DC's pacers and wrist-spinners, ending with a modest score of 163/7.
Patidar highlighted Tim David's late innings score of 37 not out as the sole positive takeaway from their performance.
"The way David accelerated towards the end was impressive. The fast bowlers' performance during the powerplay was exceptional. (Looking ahead to their next game in Jaipur) We aren’t focusing on our good away record. The key is to simply play good cricket," said Patidar after RCB faced their second home loss this season. They now stand with three wins from five matches and aim to regroup for their next encounter.
