KL Rahul’s batting position is in doubt as the Delhi Capitals (DC) team management is yet to decide its playing combination for the IPL 2026 season. Ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League campaign, DC head coach Hemang Badani highlighted the uncertainty over KL Rahul.
The Indian star batsman had a brilliant performance for Delhi Capitals last season. He acted as an opening batsman and scored a lot of runs to justify his talent and class. In IPL 2026, will the management play Rahul again as an opening batsman or as a middle-order batsman? Hemang Badani had to face this question.
KL Rahul’s batting average was close to 54 in IPL 2025
In IPL 2025, DC was very close to qualifying for the playoffs but missed the chance by just a few inches. The right-handed batsman joins the Delhi-based franchise after a forgettable stint with Lucknow Super Giants.
In DC colours, KL Rahul scored 539 runs in 13 matches with an impressive batting average of 53.90 and strike rate of 149.72.
Head coach of Delhi Capitals reveals the truth about KL Rahul’s batting position.
Speaking to news agency ANI, the DC coach said that he has not yet decided the role of the Karnataka-born player for the upcoming season, as he has multiple options in his team. One of the most versatile batsmen of the modern era of cricket, KL Rahul can operate in both the top and middle order.
“It is still undecided,” Badoni told ANI. “That’s the million dollar question. To be honest, we are still undecided, and I don’t think I can answer it right now. Within the next week or so we will have clarity whether he will bat as an opener or in the middle order.”
Many accomplished batsmen cause headaches for coaches
For the middle-order batting position, DC has Indian and foreign options to choose from. South Africans Tristan Stubbs and David Miller are among the batsmen who are natural middle-order batsmen.
Along with Stubbs and Miller, uncapped Indian batsman Ashutosh Sharma is also in the set-up, who can act as a finisher. Experienced batsman Nitish Rana is also part of the squad for the IPL 2026 season.
“So it’s a challenge for every team that you can play only four abroad. And when you have quality overseas options, it becomes difficult for you to pick and choose just four in the team. But everyone understands that the mandate is only about four,” the Delhi Capitals head coach said.
“So it boils down again on the day: how are the opposition bowlers? Which of our overseas players will add value? Which overseas players are best suited for that game? That will literally be a decision we will take going game by game”, he added.
To strengthen the batting line-up, DC also included Sri Lankan international Pathum Nissanka and England opening batsman Ben Duckett as their key overseas recruits from the auction.
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