Where will KL Rahul bat after Faf Du returns for RCB vs DC IPL 2025 game?

Delhi Capitals (DC) skipper Axar Patel won the toss and chose to bowl in match number 24 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Thursday. Faf Du Plessis was back in for the game to play against his former side, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. KL Rahul had opened the batting for DC in the last game and scored a match-winning 77 against Chennai Super Kings. 

Axar Patel was asked by Deep Dasgupta to name where KL Rahul will bat. The 31-year-old, first without being too specific, gave a huge hint that Rahul could be slotted back in the middle order in the second innings. This means Jake Fraser-McGurk keeps his spot as an opener despite a slow start to the season with the bat. 

Royal Challengers Bengaluru went in with the same side that had won against the Mumbai Indians by 12 runs. This is the second home game for RCB in the current season. In their last home game, Bengaluru had lost to Gujarat Titans by seven wickets. Both sides have accumulated six points to be placed in the top half of the table in the early stages of the season. 

Yet another run-scoring fest in Bengaluru?

Over the years, Chinnaswamy Stadium has been known as a haven for huge runs being scored. In the last game, RCB scored a mammoth total on the board thanks to fifties by Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar. The likes of Jitesh Sharma, Devdutt Padikkal, Liam Livingstone, and Tim David too will have a huge role to play. 

Speaking at the toss, DC skipper Axar Patel revealed that he will bowl four overs if needed and wanted to guard his fingers against any injury. Patel said, “We will bowl first. My fingers are fine protecting it, but if needed, I will bowl all four overs. Spinners will have a role here, but the fast bowlers can also take wickets. They'll have to play the roles they've been selected to do. We have two good leg-spinners; they're our attacking options. we have defending options as well, so we'll have to play according to whatever the match situation demands.”

Rajat Patidar said, “We would have loved to chase, but the surface looks hard. We'll look to put up a good total and defend it. I always back my instincts, but I do plan as well. It's important to win home matches as well; important to have the momentum going.”