Former Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has urged Delhi Capitals to open the innings with KL Rahul in IPL 2026. The flamboyant batter batted mostly in the middle order in IPL 2025 as he opened only on four occasions. Towards the fag end of the tournament, Rahul scored an unbeaten knock of 112 runs off 65 balls against Gujarat Titans while opening the innings.

Rahul scored 539 runs in 13 matches of IPL 2025 at an average of 53.90 and a strike rate of 149.72. The Karnataka batter has been a consistent performer in the IPL over the years and he has done a good job while opening the innings.

Ashwin said on Ash ki baat, “I still remember that KL Rahul played an amazing innings as an opener [last season]. But after that, he played it in middle order. But this time, I am getting the news that KL Rahul will open the batting. And the mindset that KL has, and the way he is playing, he is in a good space, I hope they open the batting with him. If they open with him, you have a marquee player who will give you that 500-600 runs in the season.”

Ashwin picked Sri Lankan batter Pathum Nissanka as Rahul’s opening partner. Nissanka recently scored a blistering century against Australia in the T20 World Cup.

“I would be very excited personally to see Pathum Nissanka. Not many Sri Lankan players have played in the IPL. [Muttiah] Muralitharan played first, then Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, and Lasith Malinga of course. After that, not many people have played. I am looking forward to DC playing Nissanka.

Nissanka scored 243 runs in six matches of the ILT20 2025-26 season at an average of 40.50.

Ashwin added, “He performed very well in ILT20 as well. Hemang Badani, who is the coach of Delhi Capitals, is also the coach of Dubai Capitals. So, perhaps, looking at him, he can play here. Probably, Nissanka will be one of my foreign players.”

Delhi Capitals will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Lucknow Super Giants at Lucknow on 1st April.