As the excitement builds for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, set to commence on March 28, former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan has lauded KL Rahul as a standout player in the tournament. Pathan remarked, “KL Rahul is like a reliable bank for scoring 500 runs each season. He consistently delivers runs and provides solid starts. He’s undeniably among the best in the league. While we often discuss his strike rate, the primary focus should be on winning matches.” On his YouTube channel, he emphasized Rahul’s value to the Delhi Capitals.
Pathan also expressed confidence in Prithvi Shaw, stating that despite a lackluster performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Shaw is poised to make a significant impact. “He was acquired at a commendable price after moving from Mumbai to Maharashtra for domestic cricket. He topped the scoring charts for Maharashtra in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Although he didn’t perform well in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he appears to be in good shape. Hungry players who went unsold last year often come back with something to prove, and I believe Prithvi Shaw will make a statement,” Pathan added.
He acknowledged the excitement and pressure on players who have faced setbacks, noting that while this can drive performance, it can also lead to challenges. Pathan highlighted Abhishek Porel as a strong contender, given his consistent contributions, but ultimately suggested that clarity in role is crucial for Shaw’s success.
The Delhi Capitals are set to launch their IPL 2026 journey against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 1 at the Ekana Cricket Stadium B Ground in Lucknow.
**IPL 2026 Squads Overview:**
**Lucknow Super Giants:** Mitchell Marsh, Mohammed Shami, Shahbaz Ahmed, Anrich Nortje, Nicholas Pooran (WK), Aiden Markram, Avesh Khan, Wanindu Hasaranga, Himmar Singh, Matthew Breetzke, Rishabh Pant (C) (WK), Josh Inglis (WK), M Siddharth, Moshin Khan, Ayush Badoni, Arjun Tendulkar, Akash Singh, Abdul Samad, Arshin Kulkarni, Naman Tiwari, Akshat Raghuvanshi, Mayank Yadav, M Choudhary (WK), Prince Yadav, Digvesh Rathi.
**Delhi Capitals:** David Miller, Mitchell Starc, Dushmantha Chameera, KL Rahul (WK), Karun Nair, Axar Patel (C), Ben Duckett (WK), Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Rana, Kyle Jamieson, Lungi Ngidi, T. Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar, Pathum Nissanka, Ajay Mandal, Prithvi Shaw, Ashutosh Sharma, Auqib Nabi, Sameer Rizvi, Tristan Stubbs, Abhishek Porel (WK), Vipraj Nigam, Tripurana Vijay, Sahil Parakh, Madhav Tiwari.