KL Rahul is tantalisingly close to an important piece of IPL record book history. He needs just 13 runs in tonight’s match against Punjab Kings to move past MS Dhoni and climb to the sixth spot on the all-time list of leading run-scorers in the tournament.
Rahul goes into the contest in confident fashion after producing a match-winning innings against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The venue holds special meaning for him because it is near his domestic home ground, and that familiarity has often helped him settle into his rhythm early.
This season, the Delhi Capitals batter has also shown a clear change in mindset, looking more proactive from the outset. His current strike rate sits at close to 170, with a boundary coming roughly every 2.6 balls—an indication of a more aggressive approach at the top of the order.
In the ongoing campaign so far, Rahul has amassed 205 runs across six innings. His strike rate is 166.67, highlighted by two half-centuries, with a highest score of 92.
Closing in on Dhoni
Rahul’s IPL journey has taken him through several franchises—Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings, and Lucknow Super Giants—before he later joined Delhi Capitals. Across 151 matches (142 innings), he has compiled 5,427 runs at an average of 45.60, striking at 136.97. His run tally includes five centuries and 42 fifties, with a best score of 132*.
Dhoni, meanwhile, remains one of the most established batting figures in IPL history. The Chennai Super Kings icon has scored 5,439 runs in 278 appearances (242 innings), maintaining an average of 38.30 and a strike rate of 137.45. His contributions include 24 half-centuries, with a career-best knock of 84*.
Rahul has already edged Dhoni in one major category: the number of 50-plus scores as a wicketkeeper-batter. Rahul has recorded 31 such innings, compared to Dhoni’s 24. If Rahul manages to surpass Dhoni with the runs he needs tonight, his next milestone will be Suresh Raina, who is currently fifth on the overall list with 5,528 runs.
Top 10 leading run-scorers in IPL history
- Virat Kohli — 8,908 runs (27 matches, 8 centuries, 65 fifties)
- Rohit Sharma — 7,183 runs (276 matches, 24 centuries, 248 fifties)
- Shikhar Dhawan — 6,769 runs (222 matches, 25 centuries, 251 fifties)
- David Warner — 6,565 runs (184 matches, 42 centuries, 462 fifties)
- Suresh Raina — 5,528 runs (205 matches, 13 centuries, 139 fifties)
- MS Dhoni — 5,439 runs (278 matches, 24 centuries, 0 fifties)
- KL Rahul — 5,427 runs (151 matches, 5 centuries, 42 fifties)
- Ajinkya Rahane — 5,184 runs (205 matches, 9 centuries, 234 fifties)
- AB de Villiers — 5,162 runs (184 matches, 3 centuries, 40 fifties)
- Suryakumar Yadav — 4,432 runs (172 matches, 0 centuries, 230 fifties)
