IPL 2025: KL Rahul prioritizes team balance, set to bat in the middle order for DC

KL Rahul was been batting, moved into the middle-order and batted at No.3 and didn't hesitate to put on gloves in a variety of formats. He started his career as a top-order batsman for Karnataka and also made two international debuts in T20Is and ODIs as an opener KL Rahul has evolved into a fluid player within the Indian batsmen's order.

In the recently completed Champions Trophy, Rahul played the role of a finisher following his switch from the his usual position of No. fifth position on the form. A position that he was able to enjoy many successes during his 2023 ODI World Cup but the decision by the management to bring a left-handed batsman at the top of Axar Patel to the top of the order meant that Rahul was forced to step beyond his comfortable zone.

But wait, what's KL Rahul's home comfort zone? When he played in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy vs Australia, Rahul began as an opener. He was then changed to No. 3. Rohit Sharma chose to bat for the Boxing Day Test and was back in the top spot after the Indian captain was not in an XI to play in The Sydney Test. It was the case after having played most of the Tests prior to this series in the role of a middle order batter.

In the last time he played an T20I back in 2022's T20 World Cup the his batting line-up may continue if the batsman is signed by Delhi Capitals - his fifth Indian Premier League franchise.

The 32-year-old will be a part of the DC squad in the coming week, and is likely to play in the middle of the order. The think-tank has been debating over this topic since the camp preparations started. With a few alternatives at the top and no expertise in the middle, with a late pull-out of Harry Brook, it was more in the best interest of the team to let the right-hander perform something that isn't often done in the form of bat in the middle order.