IPL 2025: KL Rahul Reveals The Story Behind His Angry Celebration After The Match Against RCB

Bangalore (India) April 11: After scooping Yash Dayal for a six to end the match, KL Rahul took off his helmet, slammed it to the ground, and drew a circle with it, almost to mark his territory. He then thumped his chest and pointed to the ground. Without using any words, Rahul gave the message loud and clear: The Chinnaswamy Stadium is his den, and he is always the local boy, irrespective of the franchise he is representing. The Chinnaswamy crowd, which is known to be RCB loyalists, showed their allegiance for the local boy by chanting ‘Rahul, Rahul’ towards the end of DC’s chase.

Rahul’s 93* off just 53 balls, laced with seven fours and six sixes, helped Delhi Capitals beat RCB by six wickets. It was the first time that DC won all four matches at the start of an IPL season. And Rahul played crucial roles in the last two.

After his Player of the Match performance, Rahul revealed the reasons behind his celebrations, which became a talking point after the RCB vs DC match. Speaking in a video by DC, Rahul said, “This is a special place for me. This celebration was from one of my favourite movies, Kantara. So, a tiny reminder that this ground, this turf, this place where I grew up, is mine.”

Kantara is a 2022 Kannada movie starring Rishabh Shetty, Sapthami Gowda and Achyuth Kumar. In the picture below, one of the characters is seen planting his sword into the ground. Being a Karnataka player, KL has played most of his domestic cricket at M Chinnnaswammy Stadium and even two IPL seasons for RCB, in 2013 and 2016.

In 20 T20s at Chinnnaswammy Stadium, KL has made 544 runs at an average of 41.84 and a strike rate of over 145, with three half-centuries in 17 innings and best score of 93*. In 18 IPL matches here, he has made 475 runs at an average of 43.18 and a strike rate of almost 144, with three half-centuries in 15 innings.

In two ODIs here, KL has made 121 runs at an average of 60.50, with the best score of 102, which is the fastest century by an Indian during a Cricket World Cup, in just 62 balls against the Netherlands back in 2023.

In three Tests and five innings here, KL has made 207 runs at an average of 41.40, with three fifties and best score of 90.

After opting to bowl first, Delhi Capitals, led by the spin attack of Kuldeep Yadav (2/17) and Vipraj Nigam (2/18), restricted the home side to 163/7 in their 20 overs, with standout knocks played by Phil Salt (37 in 17 balls, with four boundaries and three sixes) and Tim David (37* in 20 balls, with two fours and four sixes). This happened despite a powerful 61-run stand between Salt and Virat Kohli (22 in 14 balls, with a four and two sixes),

Delhi Capitals were then reduced to 58/4, but Rahul and Tristan Stubbs showed resistance as they compiled an unbeaten stand of 111 runs for the fifth wicket to take their team to a clinical win. Rahul played an unbeaten knock of 93 off 53, consisting of seven fours and six sixes, while Stubbs scored 38* off 23, with four boundaries and a six, in the team’s fourth win.

DC is in second place with four wins in all four matches, while RCB is in fourth place with three wins in five matches and two losses. KL secured the ‘Player of the Match’ award. So far in three matches, he has made 185 runs with two half-centuries and best score of 93*, at an average of above 92 and strike rate of almost 170.