Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has thrown his weight behind a bold opening combination for Delhi Capitals ahead of IPL 2026, backing Prithvi Shaw to partner the ever-reliable KL Rahul at the top.Speaking on his YouTube channel, Pathan hailed Rahul as a dependable match-winner, describing him as a “safest bank” in the league. “KL Rahul is the safest bank to score 500 runs every season. He will always score runs and is capable of giving good starts consistently. He is undoubtedly one of the best players in this league,” Pathan said, brushing aside criticism around strike rates. “It is just that we sometimes talk about his strike rate, but as long as you win the match, you do not need to focus much on that,” he added.
Shaw backed to bounce backPathan, however, reserved special praise for Shaw, who returns to the franchise after going unsold in the previous auction cycle. “They got him at a very good price. I think those hungry players who went unsold last year always come with a point to prove. Prithvi Shaw will come to prove a point,” he said.The former opener’s recent domestic form adds weight to Pathan’s argument. After switching to Maharashtra, Shaw enjoyed a prolific run, finishing as their highest run-scorer in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.‘Pressure leads to failure’While backing Shaw’s return, Pathan also issued a caution. “The hungry players who have gotten dropped are very excited, but along with that, they also put a lot of pressure on themselves to perform. This pressure always leads you towards failure,” he warned, urging the youngster to stay relaxed and focused.He also acknowledged other options in the squad, including Abhishek Porel, but emphasised clarity in roles. “They have the option of Abhishek Porel. But I think they should go with Prithvi Shaw and give him clarity about his role,” he added.Rahul primed for another big seasonRahul, meanwhile, enters IPL 2026 in strong touch after a stellar previous campaign, where he amassed 539 runs at an average of 53.90 and a strike rate close to 150. With over 5,200 IPL runs already, he now eyes the 6,000-run milestone — a mark achieved by only a handful of greats including Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.With DC set to begin their campaign against Lucknow Super Giants, all eyes will be on whether the Pathan-endorsed opening pair takes shape — and whether Shaw can indeed deliver on his “point to prove.”
