“It’s almost like odd and even games, where sometimes he goes after the bowling straightaway, which is the KL Rahul you want. But then he feels like he has earned the right, and he feels responsible for the rest of the batters to come, and then plays an innings like that. Once you get out after getting to 12 off 12, you’ve signed the death warrant for your team. Once they had those insipid first six overs, DC were done for the game.”

“KL Rahul, after playing a brilliant innings the match prior, got 12 off 12 balls in the first six overs. That’s two overs going at a strike rate of 100. When you have openers going at 200, you can’t be having an opener getting 12 off 12 in the hope that he’ll explode later,” Manjrekar elaborated.

Despite the poor outing, Rahul has been among the runs in recent games. His 75 had powered DC’s successful 226-run chase against the Rajasthan Royals last week. The 34-year-old had also broken the record for the highest individual score by an Indian with an unbeaten 152 at the Kotla against Punjab Kings, only to see his team drop the plot while defending a record 264-run total at home.

DC will next take on Kolkata Knight Riders in Delhi on Friday.