On a scorching Saturday afternoon at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, KL Rahul delivered a historic masterclass, smashing an unbeaten 152 off 67 balls against the Punjab Kings (PBKS). His monumental effort not only propelled the Delhi Capitals (DC) to a massive 264/2 but also etched his name into the record books with several unprecedented milestones.
The Record-Breaking Knock
Rahul’s innings is now the highest individual score by an Indian in T20 history, eclipsing the previous record of 151 set by Tilak Varma in 2024. In the context of the IPL, he became the first Indian to breach the 150-run mark, joining an elite global trio.
| Rank | Player | Score | Team vs Opponent | Year |
| 1 | Chris Gayle | 175* | RCB vs PWI | 2013 |
| 2 | Brendon McCullum | 158* | KKR vs RCB | 2008 |
| 3 | KL Rahul | 152* | DC vs PBKS | 2026 |
| 4 | Abhishek Sharma | 141 | SRH vs PBKS | 2025 |
| 5 | Quinton de Kock | 140* | LSG vs KKR | 2022 |
Key Highlights & Stats
- Fastest DC Century: Rahul reached his hundred in just 47 balls, breaking the franchise record previously held by Virender Sehwag and Quinton de Kock (48 balls).
- Massive Partnership: Alongside Nitish Rana (91), Rahul stitched a 220-run stand for the second wicket—the second-highest partnership in IPL history.
- Three-Franchise Feat: Rahul is now the first player in IPL history to score multiple centuries for three different franchises (PBKS, LSG, and DC).
- Sweltering Conditions: Battling 41°C heat, Rahul played all 20 overs but had to cede wicketkeeping duties to Tristan Stubbs during the second innings due to exhaustion and cramping.
Rahul on His Performance
Despite the aggressive finish, Rahul emphasized that his primary focus was technical stability:
“My strength is always to play proper cricket shots. Early on, for the first 70-80 runs, I wasn’t really premeditating; I was just in a mindset to hit boundaries and put pressure on the bowlers. Only towards the end was I premeditating to get the team past 250.”
