Just before taking on Punjab Kings, KL Rahul stood on the threshold of a major landmark in IPL history, needing 13 runs to edge ahead of MS Dhoni on the league’s all-time run-getters list. He seized the moment in the most Rahul-like fashion, clearing the line with a sharp boundary that carried him beyond the Chennai Super Kings great and lifted him to sixth place among the highest run scorers.
The breakthrough also came with a slice of fortune for Rahul’s innings. Shashank Singh put down another chance off Arshdeep Singh, giving Rahul a reprieve that quickly turned into progress as he converted the opportunity into the run total required.
Dhoni’s enduring record provides the benchmark Rahul has been chasing. Across 278 IPL matches (242 innings), Dhoni has amassed 5,439 runs at an average of 38.30, striking at 137.45. His tally includes 24 half-centuries, and his highest score stands at 84 not out.
As Rahul continued his chase of the milestone, he also moved past Dhoni in another significant category. In terms of total runs, Rahul had already crossed 5,462 not out in 152 matches, leaving Dhoni behind in the broader career aggregate.
Rahul’s season form heading into this contest underlined why the milestone was always likely to arrive soon. He had already scored 205 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 166.67, featuring two fifties and a best score of 92. With more runs still available in the match against Punjab Kings, his total was expected to rise further.
There was yet another statistical step forward for Rahul beyond the run-scorers chart. He has overtaken Dhoni for the most 50-plus scores made by a wicketkeeper-batter in IPL history. Rahul now holds 31 such innings, compared to Dhoni’s 24.
Looking further down the ladder, Suresh Raina remains the next target for Rahul, with Raina positioned fifth on the all-time list on 5,528 runs.
DC vs PBKS: Rahul powers Delhi Capitals’ start
Delhi Capitals began the contest on a strong note, reaching 68/1 during the powerplay overs. Rahul was at the centre of the momentum, scoring 35 from 16 balls and finding early boundaries while also benefiting from the dropped catch chance earlier in the innings.
While Rahul maintained the scoring rate, Pathum Nissanka fell for 11. The bowling used by Punjab Kings brought some pressure, with Marco Jansen and Vyshak Vijaykumar proving costly. Arshdeep Singh did manage to break through with a wicket, but Delhi’s early platform remained intact.
Playing XIs
- Punjab Kings (Playing XI): Prabhsimran Singh (w), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
- Delhi Capitals (Playing XI): KL Rahul (w), Pathum Nissanka, Sameer Rizvi, Axar Patel (c), Nitish Rana, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar
