Opening Role Awaits KL Rahul Again in Indian Premier League

KL Rahul is likely to return to the opening slot in the Indian Premier League. He used to bat at number four for Delhi Capitals last season, but DC might slot him back to open for the team. Since the team is in need of experienced openers, Rahul comes as the first choice.

KL Rahul is known for his versatile batting style. He could come in the middle order, he could open in Tests and T20Is, and he could also play as a finisher in the ODIs. And now, it is likely that KL Rahul will return to the opening spot in the Indian Premier League 2026 for the Delhi Capitals. He had a tremendous season in 2025, and he aims for a better one this time.

But the Delhi Capitals are having some problems of their own, with the key problem being with their opening duo. Faf du Plessis was an experienced opener for the team but he was released after IPL 2025. Moreover, KL Rahul also played as an opener for the team for some games in the last season, when Jake Fraser-McGurk was unavailable.

Now, without Faf du Plessis, the team looks for experience in the opening slot. And there is one player who comes as the perfect fit, KL Rahul. It is also being reported that he will likely open for the team in the upcoming season, ready to bash the bowlers from the start. But it still remains unclear on who will join Rahul to open.

Our Take

KL Rahul as an opener would be a great choice for the Delhi Capitals. Jake Fraser-McGurk was promising for the team in IPL 2024, but didn't do well for them in IPL 2025. With other players such as Karun Nair, Abhishek Porel, and Prithvi Shaw, the team might be doing some experiments.

Rahul, as an opener, brings some nostalgic moments for the fans. Especially the time when he used to open for Kings XI Punjab back in 2018. He also stands among the fastest fifties record holders in the Indian Premier League. Against the Delhi Daredevils, he scored a fifty in just 14 balls while opening for the team.