Bharat wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul relives his improbable 14-ball fifty, he scored within the 2018 IPL era taking part in for Punjab Kings (erstwhile Kings XI Punjab) and known as it the right T20 12 months of his profession. KL Rahul, who was once bought via Punjab for Rs 11 crore within the public sale for IPL 2028, scored a match-winning 51 off 14 balls in opposition to Delhi Capitals, the event’s quickest 1/2 century on the moment, in his 2d tournament for the franchise as Punjab Kings snapped 64 runs in 5 overs of their chase of 167.
“I had just debuted in T20Is for India and scored that 100 in Miami against the West Indies, so I had some recent T20 runs and confidence behind me. It was a new franchise, and I was excited, especially after the high price tag they paid, which I hadn’t expected. That season came with pressure, being a new team and all, but my mind was clear at that time.
Rahu led the PBKS run charts with over 650 runs with six half-centuries that included a few innings in the 90s. Together with Chris Gayle, Rahul formed a potent opening combination that took the attack to the opposition and he enjoyed the freedom given to him at the top of the batting order.
“I used to be assured in my sport, knew what I needed to do, and stored it easy. 2018 was once almost certainly the right T20 12 months for me. Expectancies had been most commonly from Kings XI Punjab because of the prime ticket, however past that, I used to be sovereign to play games my sport, with out feeling like I needed to rush accountability. That allowed me to play games with self-government, and era it was once a superior 12 months in my opinion, as a workforce, we struggled,” Rahul said on Star Sports.
He further opened up about the memorable moments that shaped his journey from early struggles to embracing his unique game, inspired by legends like Rahul Dravid and Kane Williamson.
“I believe I grew as a person and as a participant. As a teenager, I attempted in point of fact sun-baked to be somebody I wasn’t, looking to crash weighty sixes to end up I may just. It simply wasn’t coming naturally. What modified for me was once staring at Rahul Dravid in one of the most IPL seasons round 2011 or 2012. He stayed true to his methodology, and he was once one of the most very best batsmen. Ocular him do neatly in one-day and T20 cricket with out converting his sport modified one thing in me.
The Karnataka batter was once picked up via RCB in 2013 for Rs 10 Lakh and please see 12 months Sunrisers Hyderabad bought the services and products of the wicket-keeper batter for Rs 1 crore. “I also spent time with Kane Williamson at SRH. He didn’t get many chances, but he’d still go back and play amazing white-ball innings for New Zealand. Watching Dravid and Williamson, I realised I didn’t need to try so hard. I had certain gifts I could use in T20 cricket to find success.
“After I embraced that mindset, issues clicked for me. Within the 2016 IPL, I had Virat and AB’s guidance-the very best T20 avid gamers round. Simply chatting with them at coaching about my sport made a remaining. As soon as the performances began coming, the arrogance adopted,” he mentioned.
The 32-year-old batter has 4683 IPL runs in 132 video games, together with 37 half-centuries and 4 centuries.
Particularly, within the IPL 2025 retention hour, LSG let fall in their captain Rahul, thus finishing their three-year affiliation with the right-handed batter. In lieu of him, Pooran is their largest retention at Rs 21 crore, adopted via Ravi Bishnoi and Mayank Yadav at Rs 11 crore each and every, sooner than Badoni and Mohsin Khan had been retained at Rs 4 crore, respectively.
(Aside from for the headline, this tale has no longer been edited via NDTV workforce and is printed from a syndicated feed.)
Subjects discussed on this article
