Delhi Capitals’ KL Rahul.
Credit: DH Photo/ SK Dinesh
All eyes will be on K L Rahul at the IPL clash today between the Delhi Capitals and the Gujarat Titans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
A star wicketkeeper-batter, K L Rahul stands at the brink of a historic milestone, as he is just 33 runs away from breaking Virat Kohli's record of fastest Indian player to reach 8,000 T20 runs.
If K L scores the required runs in this match, he would be surpassing Kohli’s record of 243 innings and achieving this feat in his 214th innings.
Moreover, this will also make him the second-fastest overall in the history of T20, ahead of West Indies' Chris Gayle, who achieved the feat in 213 innings.
The Delhi Capitals are keen to solidify their top order and are contemplating a reshuffle in their batting order, wherein K L Rahul will play as the opener for their remaining IPL matches, as per a TOI report.
Rahul so far has opened one match, batted twice at No. 3, and has featured at No. 4 in seven games.
DC, currently just outside the top four with 13 points from 11 matches, suffered a major setback with premier pacer Mitchell Starc deciding not to return for the remainder of the season. The Australian left-armer is the team's leading wicket-taker with 14 scalps, and his absence is a significant blow to DC's already slim playoff hopes.
When the two teams last met on April 19, DC were blown away by Jos Buttler's 97 off 54 balls as GT chased down a 200-plus total with ease to win by seven wickets.
Rahul, the team's leading run-scorer this season, will have a crucial role to play along with skipper Axar. If the duo can lay a solid foundation, the likes of Tristan Stubbs, Vipraj Nigam, and Ashutosh Sharma can provide the late flourish in the death overs.
GT, comfortably perched at the top of the table with 16 points from 11 games, have been a well-oiled unit this season.
DC will need to strike early to expose that middle order and halt GT's momentum.
(With PTI inputs)