DC vs GT IPL 2025: KL Rahul Creates History With 5th Ton, Becomes First Batter To Achieve HUGE IPL Feat

KL Rahul delivered a vintage T20 masterclass on Sunday night, smashing an unbeaten 112 off 65 balls to guide Delhi Capitals to 199/3 against Gujarat Titans in a must-win IPL 2025 clash at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Rahul, who needed just 33 runs before the game to reach the coveted 8,000-run mark in T20 cricket, reached the milestone during the powerplay. He achieved the feat in only 224 innings - becoming the fastest Indian to the mark, eclipsing Virat Kohli's 243 innings. Only Chris Gayle (213 innings) and Babar Azam (218) have gotten there quicker globally.

But Rahul wasn't done rewriting the record books.

The Delhi Capitals skipper went on to notch up his first century for the franchise and, in doing so, became the first batter in IPL history to score hundreds for three different teams - Punjab Kings, Lucknow Super Giants, and now Delhi Capitals.

Dominating the Titans

Promoted to open the innings, Rahul was composed early on despite the early dismissal of Faf du Plessis. He absorbed the pressure and anchored the innings masterfully. By the sixth over, he had taken on South African speedster Kagiso Rabada, clearing the ropes with ease and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

Rahul brought up his fifty in 35 balls and accelerated from there, unleashing a flurry of boundaries and sixes. His final score of 112 not out off 65 deliveries included 14 fours and 4 towering sixes, helping Delhi Capitals post a commanding 199/3.

Season to Remember

This century caps off what has already been a memorable debut season with Delhi Capitals. Rahul has now scored 493 runs in 11 matches at an average of nearly 62 and a strike rate approaching 148. His consistency at the top has been one of DC's biggest assets this season.

T20 Legend in the Making

Rahul's T20 journey began in 2013 with Karnataka, and he has since grown into one of the most dependable batters in the format. He's scored over 5,000 IPL runs at an average of 45, and while he hasn't featured in a T20I since the 2022 World Cup, his recent form could force a rethink from the selectors.

Though he missed India's title-winning campaign in the 2024 T20 World Cup, Rahul's latest exploits reinforce his credentials as a T20 great.