Fatherhood has helped my cricket over the last year, I don't overthink the game now: KL Rahul

KL Rahul has been in phenomenal form in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. He has had some spectacular seasons with the bat in the IPL before. However, what stands out this year is his willingness to take the bowlers on from the get-go.

While the Delhi Capitals have been blowing hot and cold in IPL 2026, Rahul has gone from strength to strength, amassing 433 runs in nine innings at an average of 54.13. However, the spotlight has been on his exemplary strike rate of 185.84.

During a recent interview, the wicketkeeper-batter underscored that T20 cricket has evolved in the last couple of years, especially in the IPL. Teams want to maximise the powerplay overs and score 60-plus runs. Ahead of the season, Rahul revealed that the Capitals' team management spoke to him and informed him that they want him to bat at the top of the order and play with freedom. The 34-year-old said that the clarity given to him has helped him in playing the brand of cricket he is at the moment.

“T20 cricket has evolved over the last two or three years, especially in the IPL. You can see patterns in how teams are winning, and recently, teams that win the Powerplay often go on to win the game. A few years ago, games were usually decided between the 14th and 20th overs. The Powerplay was always important, but now it carries even more weight. For me, personally, it’s something I’ve had to adapt to for the team. This season, the messaging from the team management was very clear," Rahul said on JioStar.

"They spoke to me before the IPL and wanted me to bat at the top of the order and play with freedom. Teams are aiming for upwards of 60 in that phase. Having that clarity gave me time to think about how to achieve it within my skill set. I’ve tried to go out each game with that intent. You won’t always succeed, but the idea is right. My focus is on maximising the Powerplay, because that’s the demand of the team and of T20 cricket right now," he added.

Rahul recalled that a few years ago, he was branded a Test player and not someone suitable for the white-ball formats, especially T20s. He admitted that he made some mistakes along his journey to becoming a reliable white-ball player, and he is proud of the efforts he put in over the years to get to where he is now.

“10 years ago, I would have given anything to be part of a T20 team. I was never rated as a T20 player or even considered a good white-ball player; I was branded a Test player. So, to break out of that mould, develop my white-ball game and come this far is something I’m really proud of. Along the way, I’ve made mistakes and there are things I could have done better. But, what I’m proud of is that I’ve given my absolute best every time I’ve played and prepared as well as I could to give myself the best chance to succeed," Rahul stated.

"That’s sport; things won’t always go your way. You have to take it in your stride and enjoy the journey. I’ve always tried to stay balanced, whether I win or lose. Whenever I feel low about what I haven’t achieved, I remind myself of what I have, and it gives me perspective. I still have some time left. So, I’ll keep trying my best and see how many trophies I can win," he mentioned.

Rahul also spoke about fatherhood, calling it the most beautiful thing for him. The Karnataka cricketer said that spending time with his one-year-old daughter, Evaarah, has helped him forget his pain and worries. He also mentioned that since becoming a parent, he has stopped overthinking about the game.

“Fatherhood has been the most beautiful thing for me. I always felt I had calmness and happiness in my life, but I was so wrong. You don’t truly know happiness, peace or joy until you hold your baby. This is the most beautiful phase of my life, and I’m enjoying every bit of it. It’s hard leaving her behind. I thought it would get easier as she grows up, but I was wrong; it’s only getting harder now that she’s running and trying to talk," Rahul said.

"She’s travelled for a few games, and ideally, I’d love to play, come back to my daughter, spend time with her, and then go out again. But that’s not always possible. At the same time, it makes coming back even more special. When I see her smile, when she gives me a hug and a kiss, everything is forgotten, all my injuries, pain and worries. That has helped my cricket as well over the last year. I don’t overthink the game anymore, which has made it exciting again. When I’m out there for those 4-5 hours, I’m completely switched on, and I just go out, enjoy the game and try to do my best," he added.

KL Rahul names teams he has enjoyed watching in IPL 2026

During the interview, Rahul was asked to name some of the teams he has enjoyed watching in IPL 2026. He picked the Punjab Kings, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and the Rajasthan Royals. Rahul lauded Shreyas Iyer's leadership skills and the pace duos of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood at Bengaluru and Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger at the Royals.

“Punjab has played exceptional cricket. They look like they have all their boxes ticked. Shreyas has led them really well, and it’s not a one-off. They did the same thing last year, and to continue from there and up their game by 5-10 per cent is great to watch. RCB are playing some really good cricket as well. Rajasthan, again, what I said about Bhuvi and Josh Hazlewood, you see the same with Jofra and Nandre Burger, who are quick, but also guys who play Test cricket. They are able to put the ball in the right areas, get it to move, and ask questions of high-quality batters. I’ve enjoyed watching that," he said.

Rahul was asked about his experience opening the batting with Pathum Nissanka at the Capitals. The former explained how they have helped each other's game on and off the field.

“It’s been fun. There isn’t a lot of talk in the middle. We’ve had one or two good partnerships, getting off to a flying start. That’s what the team wants, around 60 in the Powerplay. Even a 25-30 run contribution in the first few overs sets the tone for the innings. The conversations between Pathum and me are mostly about playing good cricketing shots while maintaining an aggressive mindset. I’ve had many opening partners over the years, so it’s always enjoyable playing with different players," Rahul said.

"You learn a lot about the game and about each other. Most of the discussions happen off the field. At training, we talk about the shots we can play against different bowlers, what our options are if a spinner starts in the Powerplay, and how to stay clear in our approach. We try to challenge each other in training, and once we’re in out the middle, it’s about staying relaxed and enjoying the competition," he added.