IPL 2026: KL Rahul writes history, becomes first…

Kuala Lumpur Rahul He took a historic hit for Delhi Capitals and became the first Indian batsman to score 150 in the IPL with his unbeaten 152 against Kings XI Punjab in Delhi. The innings is currently the third-highest individual score in the history of the tournament, behind only Chris Gayle’s 175* and Brendon McCullum’s 158.IPL personal highest score175* – Chris Gayle (RCB) vs PWI, Bangalore, 2013158* – Brendon McCullum (KKR) vs RCB, Bangalore, 2008152* – KL Rahul (DC) vs PBKS, Delhi, 2026141 – Abhishek Sharma(SRH) vs PBKS, Hyderabad, 2025140* – Quinton de Kock (KKR) vs LSG, DYP Mumbai, 2022 Rahul’s effort isn’t just about the numbers, it’s about how he frames it. He made Kings XI Punjab pay the full amount due to two early reprieves. He was bowled first by Shashank Singh in the 12th hole and then again in the 51st hole and from then on the opener was in complete control of the match. By the end of the innings, those missed chances had turned into one of the costliest mistakes in IPL history. Although Delhi lost Pathum Nissanka early on, Rahul looked outstanding from the outset. Soon he found the perfect partner Nitish Ranathe two put on a stunning batting performance together. The duo added 220 runs for the second wicket, which is Delhi Capitals’ highest-ever partnership and the second-highest for any wicket in the IPL, behind only AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli’s 229 runs in 2016. Their partnership also surpassed Delhi Capitals’ previous best, an unbeaten 189-run stand between David Warner and Naman Ojha in 2012. Rahul and Rana were able to score just 96 balls, underlining the sheer dominance they displayed in the Punjab attack. Rahul led the way with 14 fours and nine sixes, notching the fastest century of his IPL career. His previous fastest hundred was 56 against Mumbai Indians in 2022, but this time he went a step further and converted it into a record-breaking 150-plus runs. In the process, he also set a new benchmark for Delhi Capitals, surpassing Rishabh Pant’s 128 not out in 2018 at the same venue to become the team’s highest individual score. At the other end, Rana played an ideal supporting role, finishing with 91 after hitting 11 boundaries and four sixes. They pushed Delhi Capitals to a staggering 264 runs for 2 in 20 overs, leaving Punjab Kings in a daunting chase.