Tom Moody defends KL Rahul over strike-rate concerns in IPL 2025

Former Australian all-rounder Tom Moody has put his weight behind KL Rahul over strike rate concerns in the ongoing IPL 2025. Rahul scored a majestic knock of 112 runs off just 65 balls against Gujarat Titans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on Sunday. 

The flamboyant batter smashed 14 fours and four sixes in his blistering knock as he scored at a strike rate of 172.31 but his efforts went in vain as DC suffered a 10-wicket loss after Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill scored unbeaten knocks of 108 and 93 runs respectively in the run-chase of 200.

Rahul has scored 493 runs in 11 matches at an average of 61.63 and a strike rate of 148.04 in the ongoing season.

Moody highlighted that he fails to understand Rahul’s criticism as he has always performed consistently in the IPL.

“I always find the criticism around KL Rahul quite extraordinary. I think he’s a lot better player than a lot of people give him credit for. And the way I look at this innings, I think it’s an outstanding innings. And yeah, look, it’ll depend who wins the game to whether he’s, you know, the Player of the Match or not. But the way I look at this and I look at the batting card, what’s let them down and not reaching that 220 is the other batters that were in only struck at 150. On a [batting-friendly] surface, you want impact,” Moody said to ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out.

“When you’ve got someone in there that’s anchoring, that’s building the total, your role when you come in is to impact the game – 30 off ten balls, those types of innings, that suddenly take you to that 220. Instead of pointing the finger at the same person, I think it’s the other way around,” Moody added.

Delhi Capitals will next take on Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Wednesday.