KL Rahul on verge of shattering stalwart Virat Kohli's massive T20 record

ANI May 18, 2025 203 views

KL Rahul stands just 33 runs away from breaking Virat Kohli's record as the fastest Indian to 8000 T20 runs. The Delhi Capitals batter faces a stern test against Gujarat Titans' Rashid Khan, who has historically contained him. Meanwhile, DC's Axar Patel has been devastating against spin this IPL season. The match could hinge on GT's inexperienced middle order at Delhi's high-scoring Arun Jaitley Stadium.

"Rahul could dethrone Kohli in just 214 innings, eclipsing his 243-innings record" – Match Analysis
New Delhi, May 17: Delhi Capitals seasoned wicketkeeper batter KL Rahul is on the cusp of breaking batting maestro Virat Kohli's elusive T20 feat of becoming the fastest Indian to reach the 8000-run mark in the T20s.

Key Points

1

Rahul 33 runs shy of Kohli's 8000-run T20 milestone

2

GT's Rashid Khan has dismissed Rahul thrice

3

DC's Axar Patel dominates spin with 192.85 strike rate

4

GT's fragile middle order could decide playoff-bound clash

Rahul could shatter Virat's record and become the fastest to reach the 8000-run landmark during Delhi Capitals' do-or-die fixture against Gujarat Titans in their home den on Sunday. The 33-year-old stands 33 runs short of the milestone and to become the fastest Indian to achieve the feat in the just his 214th T20 innings, surpassing Virat's record of 243 innings.

He has a chance to become the second-fastest player overall in the format, dethroning Pakistan's premier batter Babar Azam, who achieved the feat in 218 innings.

Gujarat Titans could spoil Rahul's party by lining up the flamboyant star against its top-tier spinner Rashid Khan. The Afghanistan ball tweaker has restrained Rahul, unlike others. In 47 deliveries, Rahul has managed just 40 runs, losing his wicket thrice in the process.

On the other hand, Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel has been a regular tormenter of spin in the 18th edition of the cash-rich league. The southpaw has struck handsomely at 192.85 and among those who have struck at least 100 runs against spin, only West Indies power-hitter Nicholas Pooran has maintained a better strike rate (264) than the DC captain.

In the upcoming fixture that would determine DC's playoffs fate, the hosts will eye to exploit GT's middle order inexperience. Gujarat's top three batters, Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler have played an average of 88 balls per innings between them.

On the other hand, their batters from numbers 4 to 11 have only faced an average of 28 balls per innings. The lack of experience after GT's top-three could play in Delhi's favour at the high-scoring Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
KL Rahul has been so consistent over the years! He deserves this record more than anyone else. His technique against both pace and spin is world-class. Hope he gets those 33 runs and makes India proud 🇮🇳 #KingKL
P
Priya M.
While I'm excited for KL, let's not forget Virat's record was made when T20 wasn't as batsman-friendly as today. Context matters! But yes, Rahul's achievement will still be massive if he pulls it off.
A
Amit S.
Rashid Khan vs KL Rahul will be the real battle to watch! The Afghan spinner has had his number before. Hope Rahul has worked on his game against quality leg spin. 🤞
S
Sanjay V.
Records come and go, but what matters is winning the match for DC! The team needs to qualify for playoffs. Individual milestones should be secondary right now. #DCvGT
N
Neha T.
So proud that two Indians (Rahul and Kohli) are at the top of this list! Shows the batting talent we have in our country. Just hope KL doesn't get too nervous chasing the record - needs to play his natural game.
V
Vikram J.
Interesting stat about GT's middle order weakness! DC should definitely target their inexperienced players after the powerplay. Axar's form against spin could be crucial in the middle overs.

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Tags:
KL Rahul Virat Kohli T20 record Delhi Capitals Gujarat Titans Rashid Khan IPL 2024
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