KL Rahul was back to doing what he does best¡ªscoring big runs at the top of the order. In a thrilling IPL 2025 clash against Chennai Super Kings, the Delhi Capitals star smashed 77 runs off 51 balls, guiding his team to a strong total of 183.
But it wasn¡¯t just about the runs. With this half-century, Rahul reached a major milestone¡ªhis 40th fifty as an opener in the IPL. He now stands alongside Virat Kohli in the elite list of most fifties by openers. Only David Warner (60) and Shikhar Dhawan (49) have more.
In Delhi¡¯s previous match, Rahul was tried at number four but couldn¡¯t make much of an impact. This time, with Faf du Plessis missing, he returned to the opening slot¡ªand delivered in style.??
Calm, composed, and classy, Rahul made batting look easy. He was well-supported by Abhishek Porel and Tristan Stubbs, who kept the pressure on CSK with aggressive cameos.
With 184 runs needed to win, CSK have a mountain to climb. They haven¡¯t chased a total this big successfully since 2019. Delhi¡¯s bowling attack looks sharp, especially with Mitchell Starc coming off a five-wicket haul. If the pitch offers a turn, spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel could play a big role in the second innings.
Looking to shake things up, CSK brought back Devon Conway to open alongside Rachin Ravindra. Rahul Tripathi was dropped after a few quiet games. Ruturaj Gaikwad has shifted to number three, while Shivam Dube is expected to come in later as an Impact Player.
With a big score on the board and Rahul back in form, Delhi Capitals have the upper hand¡ªbut in cricket, anything can happen.?