Rahul joins Gayle and McCullum in 150-plus club
KL Rahul has entered rare territory. His unbeaten 152 is now the third-highest score in IPL history, behind Chris Gayle’s 175* and Brendon McCullum’s 158*. More significantly, he is the first Indian to cross 150 in the league.
In doing so, Rahul has answered long-standing questions around his tempo in T20 cricket. This was not accumulation. It was sustained attack. On a day when temperatures crossed 40 degrees in Delhi, he controlled the innings and finished it. He also moved to the top of the run charts, overtaking Virat Kohli for the Orange Cap.
Highest Individual Scores in the IPL
175* – Chris Gayle vs PWI, Bengaluru, 2013
158* – Brendon McCullum vs RCB, Bengaluru, 2008
152* – KL Rahul (DC) vs PBKS, Delhi, 2026, Today*
Rahul’s innings: control, range and tempo
Rahul’s 152* came off 62 balls, with 14 fours and 9 sixes. He began with intent and did not ease off. He used the pace of the ball early, then targeted lengths once set. His running between the wickets remained sharp even in the heat.
There were moments that could have changed the innings. He was dropped on 12 and again on 51, both times by Shashank Singh. Punjab paid heavily for those errors. Rahul made them count.
At 150, he paused briefly, removed his helmet and acknowledged the crowd. His celebration, a small whistle gesture, was personal. The innings, however, was about control under pressure and clarity in approach.
Delhi build around Rahul, Rana adds weight
Delhi Capitals finished on 264 for 2, driven by a dominant second-wicket stand. Nitish Rana made 91 off 44 balls, hitting 11 fours and 4 sixes. He matched Rahul through the middle overs and ensured there was no dip in scoring.
Their partnership of 220 runs set a new benchmark for the franchise. It came at a sustained rate, with both batters finding boundaries regularly and rotating when needed.
Even when Rana fell short of a hundred, caught by Shreyas Iyer off Xavier Bartlett, the damage was already done. Delhi had built an innings that left little room for recovery.
Punjab bowlers struggle for control
Punjab Kings’ bowling figures reflected the pressure they were under. Arshdeep Singh returned 1 for 49 in four overs. Xavier Bartlett conceded 69 for his wicket. Marco Jansen went for 45 without success.
Vijaykumar Vyshak gave away 48 in three overs, while Yuzvendra Chahal remained wicketless, conceding 42. Marcus Stoinis had a limited role.
There was no phase where Punjab could pull things back. Missed chances in the field added to the problem, and the lack of control with the ball meant Delhi dictated terms throughout.