IPL 2025: KL Rahul’s Kantara-style celebration goes viral after Delhi’s thrilling win

Dubai: KL Rahul is not known to show his emotions openly, but the Indian batter couldn’t hide his feelings after guiding Delhi Capitals to a tough six-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League on Thursday.

Rahul’s unbeaten 93 and a match-winning partnership with Tristan Stubbs for the fifth wicket pulled off a thrilling chase to extend the Capitals’ unbeaten run in Season 18.

After taking Delhi past the target, Rahul marked the ground with his bat — a gesture recreating an iconic scene from the Kannada film Kantara — as if to declare, this is my turf.

Rahul has long-standing ties to the ground, having played here often with Karnataka in domestic tournaments.

“It was a slightly tricky wicket but what helped me was being behind the stumps for 20 overs, watching how the wicket played,” Rahul said after the game. “The ball sat in the wicket but it was consistent throughout, it was one-paced. This is my ground, my home, I know this [ground] better than anyone else.”

Despite the mounting run rate, Rahul knew exactly what he needed to do — just as he did during India’s triumphant Champions Trophy campaign in Dubai. The conditions, too, were in his favour.

“I try to adapt to different wickets even in practice,” he added. “I experiment, get out a couple of times, but it gives me a fair idea of where I can take singles and where I can hit sixes.”

Stubbs played a vital supporting role, helping Rahul put on a blistering 70-run stand in under five overs.

With Stubbs adding firepower at the death, Delhi stormed to their fourth straight win. But it was Rahul’s final act — bat to ground, turf claimed — that made it clear: this isn’t just Delhi’s home. It’s his.