A Historic Performance at Arun Jaitley Stadium
In a remarkable display of batting brilliance, KL Rahul etched his name into the annals of Indian Premier League (IPL) history by scoring an unbeaten 152. This achievement marked the highest score by an Indian batter in the tournament’s history, as Delhi Capitals (DC) posted a mammoth total of 264/2 against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday.
Rahul’s innings was a masterclass in strokeplay, with 16 fours and nine sixes in just 67 balls. His strike rate of 226 made him only the third player in IPL history, after Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum, to cross the 150-run mark. The highlight of the day came from a 220-run partnership between Rahul and Nitish Rana, who scored 91 off 44 balls. Their collaboration helped DC set their highest-ever IPL total on a scorching 41-degree day.
PBKS’ Struggles Under the Heat
The match saw PBKS falter significantly with both bat and ball. One of the key moments came when Shashank Singh dropped Rahul on just 12, a mistake that cost his team dearly. Rahul capitalized on the reprieve, leading the charge for DC and earning chants from the crowd as he continued to dominate the innings.
This performance also marked a milestone for Rahul, as he became the first player in IPL history to score multiple centuries for three different franchises. His 47-ball hundred was the fastest ton of his IPL career. Meanwhile, Rana continued his destructive form, hitting 11 fours and four sixes in his 44-ball innings, securing his second consecutive fifty.
The Innings Unfolds
After DC chose to bat first under the sweltering heat, Pathum Nissanka got the scoreboard moving with a boundary off Arshdeep Singh. However, it was Rahul who truly took control of the innings, starting with a drive and flick to secure consecutive boundaries.
Arshdeep provided the breakthrough for PBKS in the third over by dismissing Nissanka, who top-edged a pull to the wicketkeeper. Despite this setback, DC’s momentum remained undeterred, with Rahul finishing the over with a powerful six over deep mid-wicket.
Nitish Rana quickly added to the pressure, hitting four boundaries in his first ten balls. Rahul maintained his aggressive approach, pulling Vyshak Vijaykumar and Marco Jansen for six and four respectively. By the end of the power-play, DC had reached 68/1, their highest score in this phase of the game in IPL 2026.
Key Moments and Records
Rahul’s innings reached another high point when he launched Yuzvendra Chahal over long-on for a maximum, reaching his fifty in 26 deliveries. He celebrated by ending the over with a boundary, bringing up DC’s hundred.
Rana then shifted gears, reaching his fifty off 29 balls with back-to-back scooped boundaries. He added runs with two fours and two sixes, making the 12th over one of the most productive of the innings.
Rahul showed no signs of slowing down, smashing a sensational six off Marcus Stoinis and dismantling Arshdeep for three fours and a six. His range of shots left the PBKS fielders watching in awe.
A Century and Beyond
Rahul reached his century in 47 balls by punching Jansen down the ground for a boundary. He celebrated with his signature ‘X’ gesture, prompting a standing ovation from the crowd.
Even after crossing his century, Rahul continued to dominate, carting Vyshak for three sixes and a boundary in a 24-run over that saw DC surpass the 200-run mark. Rana survived a major scare in the 17th over when Marcus Stoinis attempted a sliding catch at the square leg boundary.
However, after multiple replays, the third umpire ruled that Stoinis’ boot had touched the boundary rope, resulting in a six instead of a dismissal. Rahul continued his assault, clearing his front leg to smash Jansen over long-off for his eighth six of the evening, before adding another boundary.
Final Scorecard
Brief Scores:
Delhi Capitals 264/2 in 20 overs (KL Rahul 152 not out, Nitish Rana 91; Arshdeep Singh 1-49, Xavier Bartlett 1-69) against Punjab Kings
