KL Rahul wrapped up Delhi Capitals’ innings with a blistering unbeaten 152, steering the team to a massive 264/2, and after the match he reflected on the thinking behind his innings. The wicketkeeper-batter said his focus was on executing “real cricket” shots while keeping constant pressure on the opposition bowlers, and he also highlighted Nitish Rana’s standout 91 as DC’s momentum-building partner during a huge 220-run stand.
Key takeaways
- Rahul powered DC to 264/2 after striking 152* off 67 balls in his innings.
- The knock featured 16 fours and nine sixes, with a strike rate of 226.
- His 152* is the top individual IPL score by an Indian batter and the third-highest overall in IPL history, behind Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum.
- Rahul also overtook Tilak Varma to set the mark for the highest individual score by an Indian player in men’s T20 cricket.
- He became the first IPL player to score multiple centuries for three different franchises: Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings, and Lucknow Super Giants.
- The Rahul–Rana 220-run partnership is the second-best stand in IPL history.
Rahul explains the mindset behind 152 not out
Speaking after his innings, Rahul admitted he was feeling the effects of the heat and needed recovery, describing the moment as a mix of emotions. He said he was concerned about cramping later, though he suggested that only late in the innings did he start planning his approach more deliberately.
In the early phase, Rahul explained that for the opening 70 to 80 runs he wasn’t focusing on premeditated shots. Instead, he said he was simply looking to hit boundaries and sustain scoreboard pressure on the bowlers. He also emphasised that his “strength” is playing proper cricket shots, and he believed trusting that game plan would be enough to push DC beyond the 250 mark.
As the innings progressed, Rahul pointed to changes in field placements and bowling variations as the reason his planning became more specific towards the end. He noted that when bowlers went wider or when a spinner’s field came into play, he had a clearer idea of what to expect. “Only at the back end was I premeditating,” he said, adding that he maintained his intent throughout.
Praised Rana’s 91 and the partnership’s impact
Rahul was full of praise for Nitish Rana after Rana contributed a phenomenal 91. He said Rana’s timing and boundary-hitting from the early overs increased the pressure on the bowling side, especially when the batter was targeting big sixes. Rahul argued that when a batsman can still score at a high strike rate while playing more orthodox, merit-based shots, it makes it harder for the fielding group to believe they can contain the chase.
Rahul also credited the right-hand, left-hand combination between himself and Rana for helping them keep the scoreboard moving. He acknowledged that the pitch was on the slower side, but said both batters were reading the ball well. The end result, in his view, was simple: they continued batting with purpose, kept finding boundaries, and sustained pressure on the bowlers long enough to build a record partnership.
