Smooth KL Rahul transition from LSG to DC impresses Pujara as latter once again impresses in convincing win for DC.
Smooth KL Rahul transition from one team to another has caught the eye of Cheteshwar Pujara after the former put in another match-winning performance for DC against his former side LSG.
After missing the beginning of the season due to the birth of his child, KL Rahul struck his third half-century in the IPL 2025 on Tuesday night as the Delhi Capitals (DC) defeated the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). This brought his total to 323 runs in seven innings. He has scored the most runs for DC this season, and his most recent innings—a game-winning 42-ball 57—was another example of how he is one of the most potent Indian T20 hitters.
Rahul is currently averaging close to 65 in his debut season with his new team, and Cheteshwar Pujara has given him credit for letting go of the “baggage” from the previous season—the rupture with LSG—and moving on.
Pujara impressed with smooth transition
“Just move on, don’t carry any baggage from the past,” Pujara said on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut, reflecting on Rahul’s IPL 2025 form. “And that’s a good thing. Look, KL is a mature player. Last couple of years, he’s been batting well across formats. He doesn’t want to think about the past and wants to enjoy his batting and be in his zone, rather than think about what went wrong when he was playing for the LSG team.
“It’s good to move on, which will also help him play well for DC and even for the Indian team. Because, lately, he is someone the India team also relies on, the way he’s batting. Even as a person, he looks a lot more mature now, he understands his game very well. We have seen a different KL Rahul this season. When he started [against LSG], he didn’t look that [fluid], but still he picked it up.”
No burden of captaincy- Nick Knight
According to former England opener Nick Knight, Rahul may be succeeding because he is not required to take on the role of captain, as he was at LSG.
“Captaincy can do funny things to you – sometimes you thrive on it, sometimes it’s a burden,” Knight said. “Whether that’s had any impact, of not being captain now, just being free and being able to play the match situation.
“We’ve got this obsession in cricket that the best player has to be captain. That’s not always the case, is it? I’m not saying that’s the case with KL Rahul, or even Rishabh Pant, but he’s batting with so much freedom and looks relaxed in the crease.”