New Delhi: Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has thrown its weight behind a bold opening combination for Delhi Capitals ahead of IPL 2026, backing Prithvi Shaw Always a reliable partner KL Rahul At the topSpeaking on his YouTube channel, Pathan hailed Rahul as a reliable match-winner, describing him as a “safe bank” in the league. “KL Rahul is the safest banker to score 500 runs every season. He will always score runs and has the ability to consistently give good starts. He is undoubtedly one of the best players in this league,” Pathan said, brushing aside criticism of the strike rate. “It’s just that sometimes we talk about his strike rate, but as long as you win matches, you don’t need to focus too much on it,” he added.
Shaw stepped back to bounce back.Pathan, however, reserved special praise for Shaw, who returned to the franchise after not being sold in the previous auction cycle. “They got him at a very good price. I think hungry players who were not sold last year always come with a point to prove. Prithvi Shaw will come with a point to prove,” he said.The former opener’s recent domestic form adds weight to Pathan’s argument. After switching to Maharashtra, Shaw enjoyed a brilliant run, becoming their highest run-scorer in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.‘Pressure leads to failure’Pathans also issued a cautionary note supporting Shaw’s return. “Hungry players who are dropped are very excited, but with that, they also put a lot of pressure on themselves to perform. This pressure always leads you to failure,” he warned, urging the youngster to stay calm and focus.He also acknowledged other options in the squad, including Abhishek Poral, but insisted on clarity in roles. He added, “They have the option of Abhishek Poral. But I think he should go with Prithvi Shaw and explain his role.”Rahul started another big season.Rahul, meanwhile, enters IPL 2026 in strong touch after a brilliant previous campaign, where he scored 539 runs at an average of 53.90 and a strike rate of around 150. With more than 5,200 IPL runs already, he now has his eyes on the 6,000-run milestone – a mark achieved by only a handful of Rohit Sharmas including the brilliant Rohit Sharma.With DC opening their campaign against Lucknow Supergiants, all eyes will be on whether the Pathan-backed opening pair takes form – and whether Shaw can really fulfill his “point to prove”.
