Why KL Rahul Wasn’t in Delhi Capitals’ Playing XI Against Punjab: The Real Reason Behind His Absence

Delhi Capitals (DC) played Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. DC was allowed to field first after winning the toss, allowing PBKS to come out and bat. PBKS struggled from the beginning when Priyansh Arya was given away early, getting out for only six runs. KL Rahul, however, wasn’t a part of the playing XI at the start of the match. After being hit in the nets a few days earlier, he was brought in as an impact substitute for the last few overs of the first innings.

The Early Breakthrough and Tristan Stubbs’ Catch

DC pacer Mustafizur Rahman took the first wicket of the match in the second over. Arya tried a pull shot but received a top edge, and Tristan Stubbs, the keeper, revealed great skill by backpedaling and taking a great catch while falling backward. This initial wicket left PBKS on the backfoot, with the side resting at 8/1 after Arya’s fall.

Absence of KL Rahul from the Playing XI

KL Rahul’s non-inclusion in the opening XI became a talking point. Rahul, who is normally a marquee player for DC, was not included in the first XI of this match as he suffered a recent injury. He got hit in the nets a couple of days ago, and due to that, DC rested him for a large chunk of the innings.

Nevertheless, Rahul did turn up as an impact substitute towards the last few overs of PBKS’s first inning. His coming in as a substitute provided him with the chance to play his part in the efforts of the team, even though he wasn’t in the playing XI in the beginning.

Crucial Contribution of KL Rahul in the Run Chase

When it was the turn of DC to chase an arduous 207-run target, KL Rahul contributed crucially as an opener. Stepping in as an impact replacement, Rahul immediately made a difference with a bundle of shots to clock 35 off 21 balls. His attacking strokeplay gave the impetus DC required, and it set the tone for the successful chase. Rahul’s innings was crucial to DC’s successful chase of the target, and his knock helped them win the game convincingly against PBKS.

Moreover, DC also brought in some changes for this last game of the season. Among these changes was the benching of Abishek Porel, who has been playing wicketkeeping for DC all season, for this game. This gave the management an opportunity to experiment with their team before the next season.

PBKS’s Top-Two Finish in Jeopardy

Though already having qualified for the playoffs, PBKS was keen on occupying the top two positions of the points table to have a better standing in the playoffs. Their loss to DC did impact their chances to attain that position, though. At the moment of writing, PBKS were 44/1 after 5 overs, courtesy of Prabhsimran Singh and Josh Inglis on the crease, who pulled their team back from the initial loss. To the misfortune of PBKS, the defeat left their hopes for finishing top-two in ruins, losing their chances of achieving a good playoff scenario.

For DC, who were already ruled out of playoff contention, this game was their last opportunity to close out the season on a high note. While PBKS stood to lose everything, Delhi Capitals took advantage of the opportunity to ruin their plans and close out strong, making a lasting impression on the way into the offseason.