KL Rahul's performance against the Rajasthan Royals sharply contrasted with the aggressive style he has promoted throughout this IPL season. Earlier in the tournament, he expressed a desire to avoid prolonging matches and mentioned that he had "lost the fun" in hitting boundaries. Consequently, he aimed to adopt a more assertive approach in the T20 format, successfully demonstrating this with several quick starts.

However, during a difficult match on Wednesday, as Delhi Capitals struggled at 34/2, Rahul took a more cautious stance—one that appeared inconsistent with his recent strategy.

He concluded his innings with 38 runs off 32 balls, a notably slower pace compared to his previous outings. Between the 4th and 12th overs, he faced 29 balls, managing only two boundaries: a four from a thigh-high full toss by Theekshana in the 5th over and a six from a well-placed delivery by Tushar Deshpande in the 7th. The remainder of his time at the crease was characterized by gentle singles, dot balls, and weak pushes, which failed to generate any significant momentum.

His dismissal was also telling. In the 13th over, Jofra Archer returned to bowl and delivered a short ball that Rahul pulled flat to deep mid-wicket, where Shimron Hetmyer made a diving catch to secure the wicket.

It is possible that the early collapse influenced his mindset, but the lack of urgency was evident. Fans were also taken aback by Rahul's more measured approach.

Here's how fans reacted:

The In recent matches, Rahul, known for his aggressive approach during the powerplay, seemed to adopt a more reserved strategy in his innings against RR on Wednesday. His strike rate remained around 90 for the majority of the match.

Earlier in the day, RR captain Sanju Samson won the toss and opted to bowl first against the Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. As the tournament nears its midpoint, the Royals find themselves under considerable pressure.

Currently positioned eighth in the standings, RR is eager to rejuvenate their campaign, having secured only two victories out of six matches. Their bowling unit has struggled to restrict runs during critical phases, and their batting lineup has not performed consistently. A victory in this match is crucial not only for accumulating points but also for generating much-needed momentum in their challenging season.

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