‘Standard is set high by…’ – WATCH: DC coach praises KL Rahul’s attitude after knock against Gujarat Titans

Veteran Indian cricketer KL Rahul scored an unbeaten tonne against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Sunday night. Rahul was not out on 112 from 65 balls that saw Delhi Capitals (DC) post 199 on the board. GT won the game by ten wickets thanks to a century from Sai Sudharsan and 93 not out from Shubman Gill. With this loss, DC will have to win their next match against MI to keep themselves in the hunt for an IPL playoff spot. 

KLR, you gem 🔥🐅 pic.twitter.com/Lk0Wu1JaRq

— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) May 20, 2025

DC coach Hemang Badani praised KL Rahul at the end of the game as the franchise uploaded the video on social media. Badani was heard saying, “One guy gets to bat at three one game and at four one game, gets to open for the very first time; he turns up and gets a massive hundred. That is setting standards and that is the standard I want from all of us”. 

Badani also said, “I think the standard is set high by someone who has shown the calibre that is required to play at this level. KL Rahul, beautifully done, mat”e. Capitals’ coach then pointed to Kevin Pietersen and asked the former English skipper to give the prize to KL Rahul for his efforts. 

Can KL Rahul make his return to India’s T20I side

It has been over two and a half years since KL Rahul last played a T20I game for India. His last game was in the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-finals against England, where Rahul was out for five runs. Till now, Rahul has played 72 T20I games, scoring 1628 runs with two centuries and 22 fifties with an average of 37 and a strike rate of 139. 

According to a report carried by Times of India, the veteran batter could be in the fray for a return to the side. Team India are set to play a host of T20I games later this year. According to Times of India, selectors could include Rahul for the series away against Bangladesh set to be played in August. 

During the course of his knock on Sunday against GT, the 33-year-old also became the fastest Indian batter to record 8000 runs in T20 cricket. Rahul has played 11 games this season, scoring 493 runs with one century and three fifties. The 33-year-old averages 61 with the bat and has a strike rate of 148.