With the IPL 2025 playoff race heating up, Delhi Capitals are preparing to make bold changes—and once again, it’s KL Rahul who may have to adapt for the team's greater good.

As IPL 2025 resumes with full intensity, the top 7 teams are locked in a fierce battle for the final playoff spots. Among them, Delhi Capitals, currently led by Axar Patel, are scrambling to stay alive in the tournament. As the team gears up for their crucial encounter against Gujarat Titans on May 18, reports suggest a significant change in the batting order is on the cards—and the spotlight is once again on KL Rahul.

Rahul to Open Again?

Despite being a senior player and one of the most consistent performers in the IPL, KL Rahul has had to juggle batting positions throughout the season. A natural opener, he has been seen batting in multiple roles for Delhi Capitals this year. Out of the 10 matches played so far, Rahul has:

• Opened the innings once
• Batted at number 3 in two games
• Featured at number 4 in the remaining seven matches

Now, with opener Jake Fraser-McGurk ruled out of upcoming matches due to personal reasons, and uncertainty looming over Faf du Plessis’s availability, Delhi Capitals may once again turn to Rahul to stabilize the top order by opening the innings.

It wouldn’t be the first time Rahul has stepped up for the team. He has proven his versatility this season, amassing 381 runs in 10 innings at an impressive average of 47.62, including three half-centuries. However, while he has been effective in the middle order, DC’s opening void may force him to adapt once again.

A Strategic Gamble?

DC’s potential reshuffle is not just a tactical tweak—it’s a strategic gamble in a do-or-die situation. With limited options at the top, moving KL Rahul up could help anchor the innings from the very beginning. But it also comes at a risk: disturbing the current balance in the middle order, where Rahul has been consistently scoring.

Regardless, the team seems to believe Rahul is the best bet to fill the vacuum left by Fraser-McGurk, and possibly Faf du Plessis, if he's unavailable.

Delhi’s Must-Win Scenario

Delhi Capitals had a strong start this season but have since lost momentum, suffering defeats in their last two matches. After 11 games, they have:

• 6 wins
• 4 losses
• 1 match abandoned

They currently sit at fifth place with 13 points, but with the playoff race tighter than ever, every remaining match is a must-win. One more loss, and DC's hopes of making it to the top four could evaporate.

Final Thoughts

KL Rahul has been a team player throughout his IPL career, and if Delhi Capitals need him to step into the opener's role once again, he’s likely to oblige. But with so much at stake, the pressure will be immense—not just on Rahul, but on the entire DC squad.

The coming match against Gujarat Titans could very well define Delhi’s season. And if KL Rahul opens, all eyes will be on him to deliver—once again in a role he didn’t sign up for, but will surely embrace for the team.