New Delhi: KL Rahul has officially joined Delhi Capitals ahead of the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League, with the franchise sharing a video of his arrival at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Viral arrival and celebration
The franchise welcomed Rahul with a social media post referencing his popular “Kantara celebration”, inspired by the Kannada film Kantara.
In the video, Rahul was seen recreating the celebration that had gone viral during a previous match, where he displayed rare aggression after a match-winning performance. The gesture, involving chest-thumping and pointing towards the ground, symbolised his emotional connection with his home turf.
Making a reference to KL’s words after that win, DC posted, “Ye tera ground hai, Rahul. Welcome back home.”
Strong performance in previous season
Rahul had an impressive outing in the previous IPL season, scoring 539 runs in 13 matches at an average of 53.90 and a strike rate close to 150. His performance included one century and three half-centuries.
He emerged as Delhi Capitals’ top run-scorer and was also among the top 10 highest run-getters in the tournament. Notably, he led the team in six-hitting as well, smashing 21 maximums during the season.
Impressive IPL career record
Over the course of his IPL career, Rahul has established himself as one of the most consistent batters in the league. In 145 matches, he has scored 5,222 runs at an average of 46.21 and a strike rate of 136.02.
His record includes five centuries and 40 half-centuries, reflecting his ability to anchor innings as well as accelerate when needed.
Rahul has represented multiple franchises in the IPL, including Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings, before joining Delhi Capitals.
Milestone within reach
The upcoming season presents Rahul with an opportunity to achieve a significant milestone. He is currently just under 800 runs away from the 6,000-run mark in IPL history.
If he reaches this landmark, he will join an elite group of batters including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and David Warner.
Currently, Rahul is the seventh-highest run-scorer in IPL history.
Season opener against LSG
Delhi Capitals are set to begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Lucknow Super Giants on April 1 in Lucknow. The team will be looking to build on their previous performances and make a strong start to the season.
Conclusion
KL Rahul’s arrival boosts Delhi Capitals’ batting strength ahead of IPL 2026. With strong form and a major milestone within reach, all eyes will be on the star batter as the tournament begins.