KL Rahul gained popularity during the 2016 season of IPL, where he excelled alongside Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle, and Shane Watson. Rahul kept wickets for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, scoring 397 runs in 11 innings. He was placed in the 2018 mega auction after missing the following season due to a shoulder injury.
Kl Rahul’s career was revolutionized after he was purchased by Kings Xi Punjab. From a typical wicketkeeper batter who bats in the middle order, he was elevated to open the innings and secured his berth in the first game by bringing up the fastest-ever fifty by an IPL batter. He finished the 2018 season as Punjab’s best run scorer, with 659 runs.
He was the team’s leading scorer in every season he spent with the club and also won the orange cap in 2020. KL was released by the team at the end of the 2021 season and is currently captain of the Lucknow Super Giants.
KL Rahul is unquestionably among the finest IPL players of all time. He has almost 3200 IPL runs to his name, with totals of 626, 670, 593, and 659 in the last four seasons (latest first). The sleek yet lethal right-hander also holds the IPL record for the highest individual score by an Indian batsman.
He has played some incredible knocks in recent seasons, and now we will look at KL Rahul’s five best knocks.
5. 51 (16) vs Delhi Daredevils, 2018
KL Rahul demonstrated his hitting prowess in the second match of the 2018 IPL season, slamming a 14-ball 50, the fastest ever in the Indian Premier League. The man who first set the record for scoring the fastest fifty, Yuvraj Singh, was sitting in the pavilion, concerned that his record was in jeopardy.
Kings XI Punjab were given a target of 167, which they achieved with 7 balls to spare thanks to an incredible start. KL Rahul struck 51 off 16 deliveries, including six fours and four sixes. He was coming off a stunning home run as the Indian team opener in test cricket, and the transition to the shorter game was breathtaking.
4. 103 (62)* vs Mumbai Indians, 2022
The Mumbai Indians are KL Rahul’s new favorite IPL team to play against. Three of his four IPL hundreds came against the Mumbai Indians. He scored 103 against the franchise twice in the same year, and this is the second century of his season.
Batting first, there was virtually little contribution from other batters, and Kl found himself in a predicament that he had frequently faced in his previous franchise. He was protecting one end while wickets were falling at the other. The Mumbai Indians never let the batters settle in and kept the pressure on; no other batter could give him a stand except Manish Pandey. They were 121 for 5 at one point.
The captain accelerated at a perfect time, propelling the team to a total of 168 while scoring 103 himself. The Supergiant won by 36 runs, and KL Rahul was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. His knock included 12 boundaries and 4 sixes.
3. 94 (70) vs Rajasthan Royals, 2018
KL Rahul has been on the wrong side of too many magnificent knocks during his time at Punjab. His 94 against the Royals in 2018 was one of his finest knocks while finishing on the losing side.
The Royals were all over the Kings as Krishnappa Gowtham’s double-wicket spell in the powerplay opened the door for Rajasthan, who were defending a score of 158. Punjab found themselves in peril after scoring only 33 and losing three powerplay wickets. To make matters worse, they were reduced to 66, for the loss of five. No batter could come together with KL Rahul, who was once again found battling alone at the end.
KL Rahul was not out until the end, scoring 95 off 70 and his team 143 in 20. Along with KL Rahul, Marcus Stonis’ 16-ball 11 was the only double-digit score by a Punjab batter. They were defeated by 15 runs, and Rahul was left stranded yet again. His innings had 11 boundaries and 2 sixes.
2. 98 (42)* vs CSK, 2021
The Punjab Kings faced the table-toppers Chennai Super Kings on the final day of the league stage in the 2021 season. They went into the game needing to win by a huge margin or within a certain number of overs.
With a score of 135, the onus was on the Punjab batters to reach it in order to stay in the tournament. KL Rahul struck first and went berserk. To put it more simply, KL’s explosives aided the Punjab Kings in reaching 50 in the first five overs. Without any assistance from the other batters, KL put the responsibility on his own shoulders and chased it down with seven overs to spare.
Rahul finished unbeaten on 98 off 42 balls, with 7 fours and 8 sixes. Although the Punjab Kings did not qualify, this innings will be remembered for a long time. KL Rahul finished the season as the highest run scorer yet again, with 626 runs in 14 innings. We had no idea that would be his final appearance in red and white before joining the Lucknow Supergiants.
1. 132* (69) vs RCB, 2020
After failing to create an impact in the first game of the 2020 IPL season, KL Rahul scored a riveting innings and accomplished an unprecedented feat.
Batting first, the Punjab Kings required something special from their new captain, and he delivered. As the team was built around him, KL Rahul’s responsibility has always been to remain until the end. He started poorly but was determined to make an impression as a captain. He was tested against a bowling attack led by Dale Steyn, and he performed admirably.
Kl reached his half-century in 36 deliveries. A well-paced inning capped by some aggressive hitting at the end. He scored his second fifty in just 26 deliveries. KXIP batted first and totaled 206 for 3, defeating RCB by 97 runs at the Dubai International Stadium. In the Kings XI Punjab’s 97-run triumph over the Royal Challengers Bangalore, KL Rahul hit an unbeaten 132 off 69 balls, the highest individual score by an Indian in the IPL.
Conclusion
Fans of the Lucknow Super Giants, the IPL’s newest franchise, will place their hopes in this man as the team attempts to get things started and build a name for themselves following their inaugural season. KL Rahul, one of the finest batters of our time, has been incredibly consistent over the years, practically single-handedly carrying his team. His presence will benefit the Indian team in the future, and his leadership qualities will come in handy during critical moments. He is indeed a joy to watch.
FAQs
1. Can Kl Rahul win the IPL?
He has been carrying his previous IPL franchise on his own for many years, and with the right players at his disposal, he can certainly win an IPL trophy.
2. Will he retire as the leading run-getter of the IPL?
If he maintains his extraordinary IPL form for the next 6-7 years, he could finish in the top 5.
3. Will Kl Rahul become the captain of the Indian team?
He must win the IPL as captain if he is to become the regular captain of Team India.
4. Why does KL Rahul cup his ear after century?
KL Rahul has revealed why he covered his ears with his fingers to celebrate his century during the second ODI against England. “It is rather self-explanatory. To block out the noise. Nobody should be offended,” he stated.
