KL Rahul scripted a landmark innings for Delhi Capitals, etching his name in IPL history as the first Indian to reach a score of 150. Playing in Delhi against Punjab Kings, Rahul remained unbeaten on 152, a knock that not only defined the chase but also placed itself among the tournament’s elite individual totals.
Rahul’s 152* and where it ranks
Rahul’s 152* stands as the third-highest individual score in IPL history. The only higher knocks are Chris Gayle’s 175* and Brendon McCullum’s 158*. The list of the top individual IPL scores also includes Abhishek Sharma’s 141 (for SRH) and Quinton de Kock’s 140* (for KKR), both of which sit below Rahul’s total.
- 175* — Chris Gayle (RCB) vs PWI, Bengaluru, 2013
- 158* — Brendon McCullum (KKR) vs RCB, Bengaluru, 2008
- 152* — KL Rahul (DC) vs PBKS, Delhi, 2026
- 141 — Abhishek Sharma (SRH) vs PBKS, Hyderabad, 2025
- 140* — Quinton de Kock (KKR) vs LSG, Mumbai DY, 2022
How the innings unfolded
Rahul’s run was not simply a matter of accumulation; it came from dominance built over a sequence of moments where Punjab Kings paid for early lapses. Delhi’s opener looked in rhythm from the start even after Pathum Nissanka fell early.
- Rahul was dropped by Shashank Singh on 12, giving him a second chance at a crucial early stage.
- He was then reprieved again when the same bowler put down another chance on 51.
- From that point, Rahul took full control of the batting, steadily turning early fortune into a match-winning platform.
- As the innings progressed, those missed opportunities escalated into one of the most expensive batting errors in IPL history.
- Rahul’s partnership with Nitish Rana became the driving force, with the pair combining to put on a massive 220-run stand for the second wicket.
- The duo’s 96-ball barrage powered Delhi Capitals to 264 for 2 in 20 overs.
Record partnership and milestone conversion
With Nitish Rana as his perfect partner, Rahul turned the contest into a one-sided display. Their 220-run alliance for the second wicket was the highest partnership in Delhi Capitals’ history. It was also the second-highest stand in the IPL for any wicket, trailing only AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli’s 229-run partnership from 2016.
The record didn’t stop there. Rahul and Rana also bettered the previous best for Delhi Capitals, which had been the unbeaten 189-run stand between David Warner and Naman Ojha back in 2012.
Rahul’s boundaries and fastest century
Rahul finished with 14 fours and nine sixes, and his century arrived at the fastest pace of his IPL career. While his earlier quickest IPL hundred had been scored in 56 balls against Mumbai Indians in 2022, this time he moved even faster and converted the hundred into a record-breaking 150-plus total.
By adding to that milestone, Rahul also set a new franchise benchmark for Delhi Capitals. He surpassed Rishabh Pant’s 128 not out at the same venue in 2018 to claim the highest individual score for the team in IPL history.
Rana’s finishing role
At the other end, Nitish Rana delivered the ideal support, ending with 91. His innings featured 11 fours and four sixes, providing the finishing impetus that kept Delhi’s scoring rate high throughout the innings.
With Rahul’s historic 152* at the top and Rana’s strong 91 in support, Delhi Capitals posted a commanding 264 for 2 in 20 overs, setting Punjab Kings a daunting chase.
