KL Rahul produced a blistering unbeaten knock of 93 runs from just 53 deliveries to guide Delhi Capitals to a commanding six-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. In a match that carried emotional undertones for the Bangalore-born cricketer, Rahul came in at No. 4 during a tense chase of 164 and transformed the game with a mix of composure and aggression, dismantling the RCB bowling attack with seven boundaries and six towering sixes.
At one stage, Delhi looked to be in trouble at 58 for 4 but Rahul found a steady partner in Tristan Stubbs and together they orchestrated an unbroken 111-run stand for the fifth wicket. Stubbs contributed a valuable 38 but it was Rahul’s measured brilliance that stole the show. Fittingly, he finished the match with a towering six off Yash Dayal in the 18th over, securing Delhi’s fourth consecutive win in the IPL 2025 season.
The win was more than just another tick in the points column. For Rahul, it was deeply personal. After being released by Lucknow Super Giants despite a 500-plus run season last year, he had openly expressed his desire to represent his home team, RCB. However, when the franchise passed on him during the mega auction, Delhi Capitals swooped in with a ₹14 crore bid, giving him a new stage to shine on. And on Thursday night, in the city where he grew up, he delivered a performance laced with both passion and purpose.
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With a cold, assertive celebration that quickly made its way across social media, Rahul made a statement — not just to the crowd but perhaps to the RCB management as well. Later, while accepting the Player of the Match award, Rahul didn’t shy away from his connection to the venue. He referred to the stadium as his home, emphasising how comfortable and familiar he felt in the conditions.
Rahul had missed Delhi’s season opener due to the birth of his first child but his return to the squad has been nothing short of impactful. With back-to-back fifties and a match-winning effort against a team he longed to play for, the 32 years old cricketer has not only anchored Delhi’s batting order but also reignited discussions about loyalty, identity and redemption in the high-stakes world of franchise cricket.
