Delhi Capitals (DC) opener KL Rahul came under scrutiny for his lack of intent in the recent IPL 2026 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) that was played in Hyderabad. DC lost the game by 47 runs after conceding 242 runs after choosing to bowl first.
Abhishek Sharma hammered 135* with 10 fours and 10 sixes, while Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen smashed a quick 37 runs each to take SRH to a huge 242/2 in 20 overs. In response, DC was restricted to 195/9, with Sameer Rizvi (41), Nitish Rana (57), and KL Rahul (37) being the main scorers.
KL Rahul, the DC opener and wicketkeeper, has faced harsh criticism after the defeat for his slow innings of 37 off 23 balls. DC only scored 59 runs in the power play after Rahul's knock, which featured just one boundary and three sixes, and failed to generate the momentum needed in a challenging chase.
Rahul's strategy was criticized by former India opener Aakash Chopra, who questioned his motivation while pursuing a difficult target of 243.
"I think the question needs to be asked. He faced 23 balls for the 37 runs he scored, but how many attacking shots did he actually play? In my humble opinion, when you're chasing a 240-plus total and fail to capitalize on the power play, there's a 99.5 percent chance you're going to lose the match. It's a mountain to climb anyway, but the intent felt missing. I didn't feel they gave it everything they had while chasing such a massive total," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
"He may have been carrying a niggle; it did seem like that. But once again, this is the same mistake LSG made the other day. If you don't go all out and instead adopt a conservative approach while chasing such totals, you're going to lose anyway. The question then is—did you give your best? Not enough, in my opinion," he added.
Concerns regarding Rahul's wicketkeeping were also voiced by Chopra, who highlighted a critical mistake behind the stumps that gave Abhishek Sharma a valuable lifeline during the game.
“KL Rahul does keep wickets for India in the ODI setup as well, but let's be very honest—he is a batter who keeps wickets, not the other way around. Most wicketkeepers are keepers first and then contribute with the bat. Mistakes can happen to anyone, but when it's KL Rahul, you do start questioning the overall value. If, as a keeper, you miss chances, it sometimes nullifies whatever contribution you make with the bat," he concluded.
DC will take on Punjab Kings at home in a day game on Saturday, April 25.
