KL Rahul continued to shine in IPL 2025 with a brilliant half-century, leading Delhi Capitals to a convincing 8-wicket victory over his former team, Lucknow Super Giants, at the Ekana Stadium on Tuesday night. With LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka watching from the stands, Rahul played a composed unbeaten knock of 57 from 42 deliveries, helping DC chase down 160 with ease.

This was Rahul’s third fifty of the season, taking his total runs to 323 in seven matches. He now averages a stellar 64.60 and boasts a strike rate of 153.80 — currently the top scorer for Delhi Capitals this season.

During his innings, Rahul struck three boundaries and three sixes. One of those sixes — a powerful straight shot off Aiden Markram — drew a subtle yet telling smile from Goenka, hinting at both admiration and irony.

Rahul had captained LSG for three seasons, taking them to the playoffs twice. However, a disappointing 2024 campaign saw them finish seventh. Late in that season, after a crushing 10-wicket loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad, cameras caught Goenka in an intense discussion with Rahul — fueling rumors of a strained relationship.

Despite official denials, those speculations gained ground when LSG opted not to retain Rahul ahead of the mega auction. Instead, the team chose to hold on to players like Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Mayank Yadav, Ayush Badoni, and Mohsin Khan.

They made headlines at the auction in Jeddah by spending a record ₹27 crore to acquire Rishabh Pant. Goenka later commented that the team is now looking for players who prioritize collective success over personal milestones.

Meanwhile, KL Rahul was picked up by Delhi Capitals for ₹14 crore — and is proving his worth with match-winning performances.