Delhi Capitals wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul described the moment he moved past MS Dhoni on the IPL’s all-time run charts as “special”, but made it clear that individual landmarks will never replace his real benchmark: lifting trophies, and doing so at the level achieved by Dhoni with Chennai Super Kings. Rahul’s comments came after his standout innings for DC against Punjab Kings at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, where he remained unbeaten on 152. With that knock, he overtook Dhoni and Suresh Raina to become the fifth-highest run-scorer in IPL history.
Rahul said he only realised the significance once the numbers caught up with him. “I didn’t even notice that I had gone past Mahi bhai on the all-time run-scorers list. Honestly, the milestone I would love to match with MS Dhoni is his five IPL trophies that he’s won with CSK,” he said on JioStar’s ‘Superstars’ show. The right-hander also explained how a long career naturally brings personal milestones, which can confirm that a player’s effort and decisions have been worthwhile.
While acknowledging the satisfaction that comes with individual achievements, Rahul stressed that the driving force for him is still collective success. “When you have a long career, personal achievements do feel special. They tell you that your hard work and sacrifices have paid off. But at the end of the day, cricket is a team sport. You want to win trophies. You want to be part of successful sides. That has always been my goal,” he added.
Rahul further noted that regardless of the franchise he represents, his focus is to give his best every season in the quest for the IPL title. “Every season, I give my best to win the IPL, no matter which team I play for. That matters the most to me. Personal milestones are good. They reassure me that I am on the right track. But what would truly make me happy is winning as many trophies as MS Dhoni,” he said.
In the same conversation, Rahul also spoke about the mental edge he feels when he plays at his home venue, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. He said his performances there against Royal Challengers Bengaluru have been consistent, and he doesn’t believe it comes from changing anything in his approach. “There’s nothing different I do against RCB. I’ve thought about it a lot. If there is a mental switch, why can’t I use it against every team? I haven’t found an answer,” he said.
Rahul then elaborated that the connection to the stadium goes beyond matchups. “But Chinnaswamy is very special to me. I grew up there as a kid, watching players and dreaming of playing on that ground. So, a psychological switch happens when I go there. It’s not just against RCB. I’ve done well in international games there too,” he explained. He added that certain grounds create an atmosphere where players feel they can deliver, and he’s pleased that he has repeatedly shown up against a high-quality, defending champion side like RCB. “Some stadiums just give you a good vibe and make you feel you’ll do well. I’m happy I’ve consistently performed against a top-quality, defending champion side like RCB. As an athlete, you want to challenge yourself and bring out your best against good teams. That’s when some switch turns on,” he concluded.
