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Kaif Hails Rahul's 152 Masterclass Despite Punjab Kings' Record Chase

KL Rahul smashed an unbeaten 152 off 67 balls, the highest score by an Indian in IPL and men's T20 cricket, for Delhi Capitals. Despite this, Punjab Kings chased down 265 with seven balls to spare in a record-breaking IPL match. Mohammad Kaif praised Rahul's vintage knock but noted the defeat would overshadow the brilliance. Rahul was awarded player of the match despite ending on the losing side.

Key Points: Kaif on Rahul's 152: Vintage Knock Despite DC Loss

  • KL Rahul scores unbeaten 152 off 67 balls, highest by an Indian in T20 cricket
  • Delhi Capitals post 264/2 but lose to Punjab Kings
  • Punjab Kings chase 265 with seven balls to spare
  • Mohammad Kaif calls it vintage but says defeat will overshadow brilliance
2 min read

'No bowler was spared': Kaif hails Rahul's masterclass despite DC loss

Mohammad Kaif praises KL Rahul's unbeaten 152, the highest by an Indian in T20 cricket, despite Delhi Capitals' loss to Punjab Kings in a record IPL chase.

"He played a special knock; this was vintage KL Rahul. The way he attacked the bowlers was pure class. - Mohammad Kaif"

New Delhi, April 26

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif described KL Rahul's unbeaten 152 as a vintage effort but said the pain of defeat would overshadow the brilliance of the innings after Delhi Capitals went down to Punjab Kings in a record-breaking chase in IPL 2026.

Rahul's 152 not out off 67 balls, the highest score by an Indian in IPL and men's T20 cricket, powered Delhi Capitals to a formidable 264 for 2 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. However, it was not enough as Punjab Kings chased down 265 with seven balls to spare in one of the most extraordinary run chases in the tournament's history.

"He played a special knock; this was vintage KL Rahul. The way he attacked the bowlers was pure class. He drove through the covers, pulled over square leg, and lofted straight down the ground. No bowler was spared. Every delivery was treated with intent," Kaif told Jio Hotstar.

Rahul found strong support from Nitish Rana, who smashed 91 off 44 balls, as the duo added 220 runs for the second wicket to put DC in a commanding position.

Despite the massive total, Punjab Kings came out all guns blazing, with Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya giving a flying start before skipper Shreyas Iyer anchored the chase with an unbeaten 71 to seal victory.

Kaif highlighted the harsh reality of the sport, where even extraordinary individual performances can end in disappointment.

"He remained unbeaten in the end, yet ended up on the losing side. That is the cruel side of cricket; KL Rahul must be shattered. This innings will be remembered, but the defeat will hurt more than the runs," he added.

Meanwhile, KL Rahul was awarded the player of the match trophy for his brilliant knock despite ending on the losing side.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sneha F
Klassic KL innings! But honestly, DC's bowling let them down badly. You score 264 and still lose - that's on the bowlers. Rahul must be feeling gutted. Still, what a player he is! 🇮🇳
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Vikram M
Kaif is right - this will haunt KL despite the records. When you play an innings like that and still lose, it stings more than a low score in a win. But full credit to Punjab for that incredible chase! What a match for neutral fans. 🔥
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Amanda J
This is why I love IPL - you can have a batsman play the innings of a lifetime and still see a team pull off something even more incredible. Both teams deserve applause. KL's knock was pure class 👏
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Nisha Z
Someone needs to look at DC's bowling attack. You can't concede 265 in a T20, no matter how good the pitch is. KL deserved better support from his bowlers. But what a game of cricket! Unbelievable scenes at Kotla tonight! 🏏
R
Ramesh W
This is exactly why I say cricket is a team game. Great individual performance but if the team fails, it doesn't matter. Hope KL stays strong and DC learn from this. On the bright side, what entertainment for the fans! 🎉
J
James A

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