Rayudu praised Rahul’s knock in a chase of 211 in Ahmedabad. “Initially he was conservative, he was getting a look in. But he turned it on beautifully. And maybe that’s his role in the DC side, that’s their strategy that he needs to bat deep.”

Rahul was on 20 off 17 at one point, before racing to his half-century in 29 balls – including a sequence of 4, 6, 6, 4 against Prasidh Krishna in the over that DC lost their first wicket.

“We all know that once he gets in, he has the game to play a boundary shot against any delivery,” Rayudu said. “That has been Rahul’s specialty over the years. It’s just his mindset, how and when he wants to do it is what his battle has always been about.

“Because he has the game to take on the spinners, the fast bowlers as well as every length. So the challenge is the strategy he would come out to bat with.”

“Today he wanted to bat deep,” Rayudu said, “He wanted to take it till the end and he has done a fantastic job. Don’t forget he’s played a beautiful innings.”

Rahul had a tough start to the season, with scores of 0 and 1 in his first two games. DC have two wins in their first three matches and take on Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk on Saturday in their next fixture.