KL Rahul etched his name into IPL history on Tuesday evening, reaching a monumental milestone while leading the Delhi Capitals to a commanding 8-wicket win over his former team, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.
Returning to familiar territory, Rahul silenced the home crowd with a composed unbeaten knock of 57 off 42 balls, guiding DC to victory with 13 balls to spare in pursuit of a 160-run target. Alongside him, Abishek Porel also impressed with a half-century, as the duo stitched together a crucial 69-run partnership for the second wicket.
Rahul Becomes Fastest to 5000 IPL Runs
During the chase, Rahul achieved a major personal feat—becoming the fastest batter to score 5000 runs in IPL history, reaching the mark in just 130 innings. He surpassed former Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper David Warner, who achieved the same in 135 innings.
With this milestone, Rahul joins an elite list of IPL legends and now ranks eighth on the all-time IPL run-scorers list, behind:
- Virat Kohli
- Rohit Sharma
- Shikhar Dhawan
- David Warner
- Suresh Raina
- MS Dhoni
- AB de Villiers
DC Keep Playoff Hopes Alive
The win takes Delhi Capitals level with Gujarat Titans at 12 points, boosting their playoff hopes. Despite the loss, LSG remain fifth on the table and are still in contention for a playoff berth.
LSG Innings Falter Despite Strong Start
Earlier in the day, LSG posted a modest 159/6. Aiden Markram top-scored with 52, while Mitchell Marsh chipped in with a brisk 45. However, DC’s bowlers—led by Mukesh Kumar (4/33) and Mitchell Starc (1/25)—delivered an excellent performance, using variations smartly to keep the LSG batters in check.
Fastest to 5000 IPL Runs (by innings):
- KL Rahul – 130
- David Warner – 135
- Virat Kohli – 157
- AB de Villiers – 161
- Shikhar Dhawan – 168
- Suresh Raina – 173
- Rohit Sharma – 187
- MS Dhoni – 208
