Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar didn\u2019t mince words about KL Rahul\u2019s batting after Delhi Capitals suffered a crushing defeat against Chennai Super Kings. Rahul\u2019s stay at the crease ended with a disappointing return of 12 runs from 12 balls, when Akeal Hosein got the better of him. Rahul went for an inside-out shot against the spinner, but the execution was way off the mark, and Ruturaj Gaikwad took a straightforward catch to seal his dismissal. Manjrekar framed the problem as far more than a single poor ball\u2014he suggested that getting out so cheaply is nearly equivalent to handing the opposition control of the chase or the innings.<\/p>\n
Speaking on Instagram, Manjrekar argued that Rahul\u2019s approach doesn\u2019t match the demands of modern opening partnerships, where batters are expected to keep the scoreboard moving from the outset. He compared Rahul\u2019s mindset to the idea of \u201codd and even\u201d phases, where sometimes he attacks early and resembles the version of the batter teams want\u2014only for the innings to change once he feels he has \u201cearned the right.\u201d In Manjrekar\u2019s view, that shift in intent often turns into a responsibility he can\u2019t carry, resulting in an innings that stalls before it can ever build momentum. Once Rahul is dismissed after reaching just 12 off 12, Manjrekar said, it effectively becomes a \u201cdeath warrant\u201d for the side, because the team loses its base and the middle overs become much harder to navigate. He added that after DC\u2019s lacklustre start over the first six overs, the match was effectively beyond them.<\/p>\n
Manjrekar also pointed to the broader context of Rahul\u2019s recent performances, stressing that the numbers in the opening phase matter intensely in today\u2019s T20 game. He noted that Rahul, after a strong knock in the previous outing, managed only 12 off 12 balls during the first six overs\u2014two overs worth of batting at a strike rate of 100. With openers setting the tempo at much higher rates, Manjrekar said it\u2019s unrealistic to expect an opener to merely \u201cget going later\u201d when they are already failing to generate the required pace early. In his words, if openers can go at close to 200, then an innings built around a pause-and-hope plan for a late explosion becomes a major tactical issue.<\/p>\n
Rahul\u2019s form has been a key storyline in the ongoing IPL 2026, and Manjrekar\u2019s criticism came while acknowledging that the batter has been in good rhythm. He is currently third in the Orange Cap standings. In 10 matches so far, Rahul has scored 445 runs, maintaining an average of 49.44 and a strike rate of 180.89. He has already reached a century as well as adding three half-centuries, underscoring that the talent and the impact are there\u2014while this particular dismissal against CSK highlighted how costly a slow start can be for a team trying to stay in the contest.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar didn\u2019t mince words about KL Rahul\u2019s batting after Delhi Capitals suffered a crushing defeat against Chennai Super Kings. Rahul\u2019s stay…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":8074,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Sanjay Manjrekar Criticizes KL Rahul After DC vs CSK Loss","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Sanjay Manjrekar questions KL Rahul\u2019s shot choice after DC\u2019s loss to CSK, saying Delhi\u2019s effort was done as Rahul struggled for 12 off 12.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8075","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\n