In a highly anticipated clash at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 10, Delhi Capitals (DC) made a notable strategic shift as KL Rahul returned to the middle order at number four, with Faf du Plessis regaining fitness and slotting back into the opening role alongside Jake Fraser-McGurk. DC captain Axar Patel, after winning the toss, opted to bowl first, citing pitch conditions and flexibility in bowling options.
KL Rahul, who smashed 77 off 51 in the previous game against CSK as a stand-in opener, made way at the top due to du Plessis’ return. Rahul had missed the opening game of the season due to the birth of his daughter, and has since shown glimpses of his power game, including a quick 15(5) against SRH.
Axar Patel at the toss:
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Confirmed he’d bowl first.
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Said his injured fingers were “fine” and he could bowl all four overs if needed.
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Reiterated faith in the team’s leg-spinners and emphasized the need to play to the situation.
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Highlighted KL Rahul’s permanent shift to middle-order, signaling a possible long-term role adjustment.
Meanwhile, RCB captain Rajat Patidar, continuing to lead the side, said:
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He would’ve preferred to bowl, but is confident in his team’s ability to set a strong target.
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Emphasized the importance of winning home games to build momentum.
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Announced no changes in RCB’s playing XI.
✅ Playing XIs:
Delhi Capitals:
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Faf du Plessis
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Jake Fraser-McGurk
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KL Rahul (wk)
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Tristan Stubbs
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Axar Patel (c)
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Ashutosh Sharma
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Vipraj Nigam
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Mitchell Starc
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Mohit Sharma
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Kuldeep Yadav
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Mukesh Kumar
Impact Subs: Abishek Porel, Darshan Nalkande, Karun Nair, Sameer Rizvi, Donovan Ferreira
Royal Challengers Bengaluru:
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Philip Salt
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Virat Kohli
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Devdutt Padikkal
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Rajat Patidar (c)
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Liam Livingstone
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Jitesh Sharma (wk)
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Tim David
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Krunal Pandya
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Bhuvneshwar Kumar
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Josh Hazlewood
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Yash Dayal
Impact Subs: Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Dar, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Swapnil Singh
