KL Rahul vs Mohammed Shami — IPL 2026 Fantasy Cricket Stats Comparison

KL Rahul vs Mohammed Shami is one of the most searched cricket comparisons, combining international career stats with IPL fantasy data. Both players bring different strengths to your XI, and the right choice can be the difference between topping the leaderboard or missing out.

KL Rahul is a wicket-keeper batter for Delhi Capitals, priced at 11 Cr this season. Over 14 matches in IPL 2026, he has scored a total of 1109 fantasy points, averaging 79 pts per game with a best of 287 pts. With the bat he has accumulated 593 IPL runs at a strike rate of 174.4. He has won Man of the Match 2 times this season.

International career: KL Rahul has scored 3,270 ODI runs in 91 matches at an average of 51.09, with 8 centuries internationally. In T20Is, he has 2,149 runs across 69 matches (avg 36.4).

Mohammed Shami is a specialist bowler for Lucknow Super Giants, priced at 9 Cr. Across 13 matches in IPL 2026, he has earned 456 fantasy points, averaging 35 pts per game with a best of 91 pts. He has scored 31 IPL runs at a strike rate of 140.9, picking up 12 IPL wickets at an economy of 9.00. He has won 1 MOTM award this season.

International career: Mohammed Shami has scored 224 ODI runs in 106 matches at an average of 8.00 internationally. He has also taken 200 ODI wickets at an average of 24.33 with an economy of 5.59. In TESTs, he has 750 runs across 64 matches (avg 11.9).

Batting edge: KL Rahul leads with the bat this season, making them the better pick if the pitch is expected to be batting-friendly or if the match is being played on a flat track.

Bowling edge: Mohammed Shami has been the more impactful bowler in IPL 2026, and becomes especially valuable in conditions that offer pace or spin movement.

Fantasy Impact: From a pure fantasy perspective, KL Rahul is the stronger pick right now with an average of 79 pts per game and a best score of 287 pts. The value-for-money metric (points per credit) further reinforces this — always check this number before finalising your captain or vice-captain choice.

Captaincy Recommendation: Based on IPL 2026 season form, KL Rahul is the safer captaincy option. However, if the opposition's bowling or batting lineup suits the other player, consider rotating your captain pick. Always check the playing XI, pitch report, and toss result before locking in your captain.

Stats are updated after every IPL 2026 match. Compare more players using our Player Comparison Tool or check the Fantasy Leaderboard to see how top managers are building their teams.