KL Rahul: Stamping His Authority In White Ball Formats In Style

From being panned as a stat-padder, who lacked intent from the word go to being a toast of tricky chases, KL Rahul has turned the wheels in a manner only a batter blessed with skill-set as his can. He printed the latest blueprint of his growth chart with an unbeaten 93 off 53 balls at a strike-rate of 175 on a gripping Chinnaswamy pitch to fashion Delhi Capitals's six-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Tim David (185) and Phil Salt (210) made runs at a higher strike-rate but through brute force and the readiness to travel on riskier routes either at Power Play or at the death overs.

But Rahul's fifty was smoothly paced -- from a cautious 29 off 29 balls, the right-hander made the remaining 64 runs off just 24 balls on Thursday.

It's easy to term the innings as a product of his first-hand knowledge of the local conditions as a Karnataka boy. It might have played a part but that is just one chapter of the story.

The Capitals are trying to weave their batting around Rahul, and it is partly because of his technical adaptability.

On Thursday night, Rahul showed DC's faith on him is not misplaced while nullifying a competent set of bowlers.

Even during the sedate initial period, there was no hint of struggle as it was very evident that he had judged the character of the track to the T and was waiting for the right moment to unleash himself.

It came in the 15th over bowled by Josh Hazlewood. Rahul punished the pacer for 22 runs in that over, including three fours and a six.

It decisively swung the momentum in Delhi's favour, but none of those shots were hit in anger.

Even the six that sailed over Hazlewood's head was the outcome of a beautifully poised open-faced bat, a classic method to reduce the possibility of