Historic IPL 2026: KL Rahul's 152* Highest Score by Indian in IPL
Synopsis
KL Rahul's unbeaten 152 — the highest IPL score ever by an Indian batter — powered Delhi Capitals to 264/2 against Punjab Kings on April 25, 2026. Joining Gayle and McCullum in the 150-club, Rahul also became the first player to hit multiple IPL centuries for three different franchises. A dropped catch on 12 proved catastrophically costly for PBKS.
Key Takeaways
KL Rahul scored an unbeaten 152 off 67 balls — the highest score by an Indian batter in IPL history — against Punjab Kings on April 25, 2026 .
Delhi Capitals posted 264/2 in 20 overs , their highest-ever IPL total, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi .
Rahul became the first player in IPL history to score multiple centuries for three different franchises — SRH, LSG, and DC.
Nitish Rana smashed 91 off 44 balls (11 fours, 4 sixes), sharing a 220-run partnership off 95 balls with Rahul.
Shashank Singh dropped Rahul when he was on just 12 runs — a fielding error that directly cost Punjab Kings 140+ additional runs .
Rahul's 47-ball century is the fastest hundred of his IPL career, placing him alongside Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum in the exclusive 150-plus IPL club .
New Delhi, April 25, 2026 — KL Rahul rewrote the IPL record books on Saturday, blasting an unbeaten 152 off just 67 balls — the highest individual score ever by an Indian batter in IPL history — to propel Delhi Capitals to a commanding 264/2 against a hapless Punjab Kings at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi. Combined with a ferocious 91 from Nitish Rana, DC produced their highest-ever IPL total on a sweltering 41-degree afternoon.
Rahul's Record-Breaking Masterclass
KL Rahul's innings was a masterpiece of controlled aggression, laced with 16 fours and nine sixes at a breathtaking strike rate of 226. The knock made him only the third batter in IPL history — after Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum — to breach the 150-run mark in a single innings.
Rahul reached his century in just 47 balls, the fastest hundred of his IPL career, sealing it with a punch through covers off Marco Jansen before unleashing his trademark 'X' celebration to a roaring crowd. He has now become the first player in IPL history to score multiple centuries for three different franchises — a testament to his consistency across teams and eras.
The innings gained an extra dimension when Shashank Singh dropped Rahul at slip when he was on just 12 runs in the third over. That single moment of fielding negligence cost Punjab Kings 140 additional runs — a lapse that will haunt their campaign for weeks.
Rana's Explosive Partnership Dismantles PBKS
Nitish Rana complemented Rahul's brilliance with a devastating 91 off 44 balls, smashing 11 fours and four sixes to record his second consecutive fifty-plus score. The duo forged a 220-run partnership off just 95 balls — one of the most destructive stands in IPL history.
Rana's fifty arrived in 29 balls, highlighted by back-to-back scooped boundaries off an off-colour Xavier Bartlett. He was eventually dismissed in the 18th over, mistiming an inside-out drive on a full toss, caught brilliantly by a fielder at extra cover with a stunning one-handed grab.
A pivotal moment came in the 17th over when Marcus Stoinis appeared to complete a sensational sliding catch at the square-leg boundary to dismiss Rana. However, after multiple third-umpire reviews, Swaroopanand Kannur ruled that Stoinis' boot had grazed the boundary rope — awarding six instead, in a decision that further shifted momentum towards DC.
Punjab Kings' Bowling Carnage — By the Numbers
Arshdeep Singh, despite claiming the only wicket of the powerplay — dismissing Pathum Nissanka (11) — went for 1/49, while Xavier Bartlett was the most expensive with figures of 1/69. The PBKS bowling unit collectively conceded runs at an economy rate that reflected a complete breakdown of plans and execution.
DC's powerplay score of 68/1 was their highest in this phase during IPL 2026, setting the tone for the carnage that followed. By the 12th over, a single over off Bartlett yielded 28 runs as both Rahul and Rana were in full flow.
Historical Context and Broader IPL Significance
This innings places KL Rahul in rarefied IPL company. Chris Gayle's 175* for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2013 remains the all-time IPL record, while Brendon McCullum's 158* in the inaugural IPL match in 2008 is second. Rahul's 152* now sits third on that all-time list and first among all Indian batters.
Notably, Rahul had previously scored centuries for Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants before this effort for Delhi Capitals — making him the only player in the tournament's 18-year history to achieve the feat of multiple hundreds across three franchises. This speaks to his adaptability, temperament, and elite consistency at the top level.
The 264/2 total is also DC's highest-ever score in the IPL, surpassing their previous best and signalling a potentially transformative phase for a franchise that has historically been strong but trophy-less. With this kind of batting firepower, Delhi Capitals' title credentials in IPL 2026 have been significantly bolstered.
What's Next for Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings
For Delhi Capitals, this performance will inject enormous confidence as they target a top-two finish in IPL 2026. Rahul's form at the top of the order, combined with Rana's destructive middle-order hitting, gives DC a batting depth that rivals any team in the tournament.
Punjab Kings, meanwhile, face serious questions about their bowling strategy, fielding discipline, and overall cohesion. The dropped catch that cost them dearly is symptomatic of a side that has historically struggled to convert strong squads into consistent performances — a pattern that has defined their IPL journey since their last final appearance in 2014. Their next fixtures will be critical in determining whether this capitulation is a blip or a deeper structural issue.
Brief Scores: Delhi Capitals 264/2 in 20 overs (KL Rahul 152 not out, Nitish Rana 91; Arshdeep Singh 1/49, Xavier Bartlett 1/69) vs Punjab Kings.
Point of View
Rahul has faced criticism for his strike rate, his shot selection, and his consistency under pressure. Tonight, he silenced every critic in the most emphatic way possible. But the deeper story here is Punjab Kings — a franchise that has spent lavishly on squads for over a decade, yet continues to implode at critical moments through fielding errors and bowling collapses that suggest systemic issues in team culture and preparation. One dropped catch at 12 cost them the match; the question is whether their management has the courage to ask why such lapses keep recurring year after year.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is KL Rahul's score in IPL 2026 against Punjab Kings?
KL Rahul scored an unbeaten 152 off 67 balls against Punjab Kings on April 25, 2026, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. This is the highest individual score by an Indian batter in IPL history.
Is KL Rahul's 152 the highest score in IPL history?
KL Rahul's 152* is the third-highest score in IPL history overall, behind Chris Gayle's 175* (2013) and Brendon McCullum's 158* (2008). However, it is the highest score ever recorded by an Indian batter in the IPL.
What is Delhi Capitals' highest IPL total?
Delhi Capitals' highest-ever IPL total is 264/2, achieved against Punjab Kings on April 25, 2026, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. KL Rahul's 152* and Nitish Rana's 91 were the cornerstone of this record score.
Who has scored centuries for three different IPL franchises?
KL Rahul became the first player in IPL history to score multiple centuries for three different franchises — Sunrisers Hyderabad, Lucknow Super Giants, and now Delhi Capitals. This achievement highlights his rare consistency across different team environments.
How did Punjab Kings lose the plot against Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026?
Punjab Kings' downfall began when Shashank Singh dropped KL Rahul on just 12 runs, a reprieve Rahul converted into a record-breaking 152*. Combined with expensive bowling from Arshdeep Singh (1/49) and Xavier Bartlett (1/69), PBKS conceded 264 runs — their worst bowling performance of the season.
