KL Rahul is set to don the Delhi Capitals jersey after returning from his ‘daddy duty’ following the birth of his daughter, which will further boost the team’s chances against Sunrisers Hyderabad in their Indian Premier League match in Vizag on Sunday.
Delhi defeated Lucknow Super Giants in a thriller to start their campaign on a winning note while the batting-heavy Sunrisers lost to Lucknow on Thursday in their second match of the season.
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A vital cog in India’s Champions Trophy-winning side earlier this month, Rahul joined Delhi Capitals for Rs 14 crore. However, it’s Axar Patel who leads the side.
“I’ve been out of the (Indian) T20 team for a while. I know where I stand as a player, and I know what I need to do to get back. This IPL is an opportunity to rediscover my game and push for a return to the T20 squad,” Rahul had said recently.
Prior to joining the Delhi Capitals camp, he underwent training sessions with India’s assistant coach Abhishek Nayar in Mumbai.
Delhi’s top order, which faced difficulties in the previous encounter, will benefit from the stability that Rahul’s comeback brings.
In pursuit of 211, DC found themselves in trouble at 65/5 before Ashutosh Sharma (66 not out off 31 balls) and Vipraj Nigam (39) orchestrated a remarkable one-wicket victory. Tristan Stubbs contributed with equally important 34 runs at No. 6.
In addition to his batting prowess, Rahul will serve as a vital member of the leadership team, offering essential guidance to Patel, who is in his first stint as captain of an IPL team.
DC has historically faced challenges in finishing matches successfully, and their hard-earned victory against LSG should instil renewed confidence within the team.
Delhi possesses a strong bowling lineup, led by Mitchell Starc, and his contest against compatriot Travis Head is one of the key match-ups in the game.
The combination of Starc, Axar and Kuldeep Yadav will be vital in containing SRH’s dynamic opening partnership of Abhishek Sharma and Head. The late-over specialists Stubbs and Mohit Sharma can secure important wickets in the final phase.
SRH demonstrated their batting prowess by posting 286/6 in their first match of the season, where Ishan Kishan scored a brilliant 106 from 47 deliveries, following Head’s 67 off 31 balls and Abhishek Sharma’s quick 24 from 11 balls.
Their performance dipped in the subsequent match against LSG, where they scored 190/9.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad’s bowling unit, spearheaded by Mohammed Shami, Cummins and Harshal Patel, remains a tough proposition despite struggling against Lucknow Super Giants.
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