IPL 2026: ‘Porel and Parakh are great examples of this fearless new generation’ - KL Rahul praises youngsters’ explosive batting skills

Delhi Capitals opener KL Rahul shared his thoughts on youngsters Abishek Porel and Sahil Parakh, both of whom have impressed during the Indian Premier League 2026 season. Rahul, who has scored 533 runs in 13 matches at an average of 44.42 this year, has consistently delivered at the top of the order for DC.

Speaking about Porel, Rahul praised the left-handed batter’s ability to access all areas of the ground and highlighted his confidence under pressure. He added that the youngster has shown the skill to execute difficult shots even against quality bowlers in high-pressure situations.

"It's his ability to hit sixes and access all parts of the ground. The new guys who are coming in, they are all 360-degree batters. Abhishek Porel can hit you over long-on for a six off the first ball, or he can scoop you over fine leg on the very first delivery. That kind of range is unusual, even among experienced players. One thing is to think about doing it. But the special thing about the new boys, especially Abhishek Porel, is that they can execute those shots in high-pressure games against good bowlers and strong teams,” said Rahul on Star Sports.

“He doesn't need time to settle. He doesn't fear the situation. He just sees the ball and goes after it. So yes, all credit goes to their training and how well prepared they are for such a big competition. That kind of mindset is rare in a young player. He believes in his ability, and that is why he is succeeding. Abhishek Porel is a great example of this fearless new generation,” he added.

Rahul also expressed his excitement about young batter Sahil Parakh and was particularly impressed by his six-hitting ability. The experienced batter praised Parakh’s overall batting skills, describing them as highly impressive, and said he hopes the youngster gets a proper opportunity to showcase his full potential.

"I first noticed Sahil Parakh a week before the start of IPL 2026 during our practice camp. I saw a video Delhi Capitals posted from a training session in Hyderabad. It was just a minute of him hitting six after six. I thought, 'Who is this guy?' I knew we had picked a player named Sahil, and I had seen some clips of him in the Maharashtra League. But watching him hit those sixes, it really grabbed my attention. When I saw him in person at the camp, he was even more impressive. Very dynamic. Players like Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre have already shown their talent on the IPL stage,” said Rahul.

“But there are others from the same Under-19 batch, like Sahil, who bat just as fearlessly and have the same wide range of shots. He is naturally a top-order batter, but in one game, he was sent in at five or six and had to finish the innings. He scored 20 runs in the final over. The composure, the skill, and the ability to take on any bowler, pace or spin, was striking. He could hit the ball to any part of the ground. He has already made his debut for Delhi Capitals, and I hope that he gets a proper chance to show what he can really do,” he added.