New Delhi: KL Rahul IPL 2026 has been in top form. Wrist work, flicks, no-look sixes, dancing down the track and launching the ball at deep midwicket – the tournament has showcased every shot in its arsenal. Rahul is the highest run-scorer for Delhi Capitals this season and second overall, having scored 433 runs in 9 matches at an average of 54.12 and a strike rate of 185.84. He also has one century and three half-centuries to his name.Delhi Capitals ahead of IPL 2026 and Chennai Super Kings At the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, Rahul admitted that he was “never classed as a T20 player” and was often tagged as a Test specialist.Speaking on JioStar’s ‘Superstars’, Rahul talked about how he went beyond the tag of being a Test player to become an all-format cricketer.“10 years ago, I would have given anything to be a part of a T20 team. I was never classified as a T20 player nor was I considered a good white-ball player; I was considered a Test player, so, to break out of that mould, develop my white-ball game and reach here I am really proud,” said KL Rahul.“Along the way, I’ve made mistakes and there are things I could have done better. But, what I’m proud of is that I played and prepared every time and gave myself the best chance to succeed. This is sports; things don’t always go your way. You have to take it at your own pace. I always try to enjoy the balance whenever I lose or when I win.” What I haven’t achieved, I remind myself of what I do have, and that gives me perspective. I still have some time left. So, I will keep trying my best and see how many trophies I can win,” he said.Rahul was in superb form last year as well. He played 13 matches in IPL 2025, scoring 539 runs at an average of 53.90 and a strike rate of 149.72.“T20 cricket has evolved over the last two or three years, especially in the IPL. You can see the patterns in how teams are winning, and recently, the teams that win the power play often win the game.“For me, personally, it’s something that I had to adapt to for the team. This season, the messages from the team management were very clear. They spoke to me before the IPL and wanted me to bat at the top of the order and play with freedom. Teams aim for 60-plus at this stage. After that explanation, I got time to think about how I can approach the game with my skills. You won’t always succeed, but the idea is right. My focus is on maximizing the powerplay, as that is the demand of the team and T20 cricket at the moment.”
