IPL 2026: KL Rahul creates IPL history with unique 3-franchise century feat

NEW DELHI: A red-hot KL Rahul produced one of the most extraordinary innings in IPL history, hammering an unbeaten 152 to power Delhi Capitals to a massive 264/2 against Punjab Kings at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on a scorching Saturday.

On a sweltering 41-degree afternoon, Rahul tore into the PBKS bowling attack, hammering 16 fours and nine sixes in his 67-ball masterclass at a staggering strike rate of 226. His knock is now the highest individual score by an Indian batter in IPL history, surpassing several elite names, and also ranks as the third-highest overall in the tournament - behind Chris Gayle’s 175* and Brendon McCullum’s 158*.


Rahul became only the third batter in IPL history to breach the 150-run mark, and just the second Indian after Tilak Varma to score 150-plus in men’s T20s. The innings also marked his fastest IPL century, coming in just 47 balls, bettering his previous best of 56.

He was brilliantly supported by Nitish Rana, who blasted 91, as the duo stitched a stunning 220-run stand off just 95 balls - now the second-highest partnership in IPL history. Their assault powered DC to their highest-ever total, with a staggering 162 runs coming in overs 11-20, one of the most explosive death-over performances seen in the league.

KL Rahul - IPL career

Tournament	Team	Mat	Runs	HS	Avg	SR	100s	50s
IPL (Overall)	5 teams	152	5579	152*	46.88	138.47	6	42
IPL 2026	DC	7	357	152*	59.50	187.89	1	2
IPL 2025	DC	13	539	112*	53.90	149.72	1	3
IPL 2024	LSG	14	520	82	37.14	136.12	0	4
IPL 2023	LSG	9	274	74	34.25	113.22	0	2
IPL 2022	LSG	15	616	103*	51.33	135.38	2	4
IPL 2021	PBKS	13	626	98*	62.60	138.80	0	6
IPL 2020/21	PBKS	14	670	132*	55.83	129.34	1	5
IPL 2019	PBKS	14	593	100*	53.90	135.38	1	6
IPL 2018	PBKS	14	659	95*	54.91	158.41	0	6
IPL 2016	RCB	14	397	68*	44.11	146.49	0	4
IPL 2015	SRH	9	142	44*	28.40	112.69	0	0
IPL 2014	SRH	11	166	46	20.75	101.21	0	0
IPL 2013	RCB	5	20	12	10.00	125.00	0	0

Rahul also rewrote franchise records, going past Rishabh Pant’s 128* to register the highest individual score for Delhi Capitals. In another remarkable feat, he became the first player in IPL history to score multiple centuries for three different teams - DC, PBKS, and Lucknow Super Giants.

Among all IPL batters with over 1000 runs, Rahul’s consistency remains elite, with an average of 46.88 - second only to Sai Sudharsan.

Highest individual scores by an Indian in Men’s T20s

152* - KL Rahul vs PBKS, Delhi, 2026
151 - Tilak Varma vs Meghalaya, Rajkot, 2024
148 - Abhishek Sharma vs Bengal, Secunderabad, 2025
147 - Shreyas Iyer vs Sikkim, Indore, 2019
146* - Punit Bisht vs Mizoram, Chennai, 2021

Most runs in the IPL





8989 - Virat Kohli
7183 - Rohit Sharma
6769 - Shikhar Dhawan
6565 - David Warner
5579 - KL Rahul
5528 - Suresh Raina
5439 - MS Dhoni

Of the 109 batters with 1000-plus IPL runs, only Sai Sudharsan has a higher average (47.16) than Rahul’s 46.88.

Most runs in Overs 11-20 in an IPL inns

172/2 - RCB vs GL, Bengaluru, 2016
162/2 - PBKS vs CSK, Cuttack, 2014
162/1 - DC vs PBKS, Delhi, 2026

Highest individual scores in the IPL

175* - Chris Gayle (RCB) vs PWI, Bengaluru, 2013
158* - Brendon McCullum (KKR) vs RCB, Bengaluru, 2008
152* - KL Rahul (DC) vs PBKS, Delhi, 2026
141 - Abhishek Sharma (SRH) vs PBKS, Hyderabad, 2025
140* - Quinton de Kock (KKR) vs LSG, Mumbai DYP, 2022

Rahul is the second Indian to register a 150-plus score in Men’s T20 cricket, after Tilak Varma, who’d scored 151 for Hyderabad against Meghalaya in Rajkot in 2024/25.

Highest partnerships in the IPL (any wicket)

229 - AB de Villiers & Virat Kohli vs GL, Bengaluru, 2016
220 - KL Rahul & Nitish Rana vs PBKS, Delhi, 2026
215* - AB de Villiers & Virat Kohli vs MI, Mumbai WS, 2015
210* - KL Rahul & Quinton de Kock vs KKR, Mumbai DYP, 2022
210 - Sai Sudharsan & Shubman Gill vs CSK, Ahmedabad, 2024