KL Rahul has etched his name into the Indian Premier League record books in unforgettable fashion. The elegant Delhi Capitals batter has become the first player in IPL history to cross 1,000 runs for three separate franchises.
The landmark moment came in Delhi Capitals' match against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Friday evening.
KKR won the toss and elected to bowl first, putting the onus on DC's top order to set a strong platform in a contest that could have major playoff implications for both sides.
Rahul, who has been DC's cornerstone since joining the franchise, has once again shouldered the batting responsibility this season. His ability to adapt across teams - from anchoring the middle order and opening for Punjab Kings,
to leading Lucknow Super Giants as captain in their debut years, and now thriving as DC's anchor and aggressor - makes this achievement even more special.
KL Rahul IPL Record
In the match, Rahul scored 23 off 14 deliveries before Kartik Tyagi got his wicket. But during the knock, Rahul crossed the 1000-run mark for DC, thus creating the special record.
- Punjab Kings 2,548 runs
- Lucknow Super Giants 1,410 runs
- Delhi Capitals 1,007 runs
Rahul's three-franchise 1,000-run feat puts him in rare air. While several stars have piled on runs for two teams, no one before him has scaled the mountain for three.
The Delhi Capitals batter currently has 468 runs in 11 matches and sits third in the Orange Cap race behind Heinrich Klaasen and Abhishek Sharma of Sunrisers Hyderabad. He scored a sensational unbeaten 152 in a match against Punjab Kings earlier this season.
Rahul's season has been a mixture of explosive knocks and stabilising innings depending on Delhi's requirements. More importantly, he has often carried the responsibility of anchoring a batting line-up that has struggled for consistency during key phases of the tournament.
