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The IPL 2025 mega auction saw Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) make bold moves, but one call that could haunt them for seasons to come is letting KL Rahul slip through their fingers. On April 10 (Thursday), the Delhi Capitals (DC) skipper returned to his old stomping ground and produced a batting masterclass to remind RCB of what they missed out on.
Playing against his hometown team at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Rahul anchored a tricky chase of 164 on an unusually sluggish surface, crafting an unbeaten 93* off 53 balls. While most batters found it difficult to get going, Rahul displayed a level of comfort that felt almost prophetic.
“This is my ground, my home, I know this better than anyone else,” Rahul said after the match, owning the night in both word and deed.
The pitch was far from the batting paradise that Chinnaswamy is known for. With the ball gripping and coming slow off the surface, stroke-making was a challenge. But Rahul was in a league of his own. After a measured start—29 runs from his first 29 balls—he exploded, scoring 64 runs off the next 24, shifting gears seamlessly when the team needed him most.
“I was behind the stumps for 20 overs, observing how the ball behaved,” Rahul explained. “That helped me understand that although the pitch was sticky, it was consistent. I knew my scoring areas, and I knew which pockets of the field to target.”
It wasn’t just his familiarity with the ground that made the difference—it was his meticulous preparation. Rahul revealed how he uses practice sessions to simulate match scenarios and pick his shots wisely.
“I experiment in practice, try different shots, and figure out where I can take singles and where I can clear the ropes. I don’t just keep slogging in the nets—I aim to find rhythm and flow,” he added.
This blend of calculated aggression and situational awareness was on full display during the chase. Even his aggressive shots came from smart risk-reward calculations. A mistimed heave early in the powerplay nearly cost him his wicket, but he recalibrated instantly and focused on high-percentage shots thereafter.
His current form underlines his value as both a tactician and a finisher. With 185 runs in IPL 2025 at a jaw-dropping average of 92.50 and a strike rate of 169.72, Rahul is not only leading by example but redefining his batting approach in the T20 format.
For Delhi Capitals, this is exactly the version of KL Rahul they’d hoped for when they went after him in the auction—a composed leader who can win games on tough surfaces. For RCB, it was a painful reminder of what could have been.
And as Rahul left the Chinnaswamy turf, unbeaten and unbothered, his words echoed louder than ever:
“This is my ground. My home. I know it better than any other.”
