Sandy Verma
Tezzbuzz|19-05-2025
The crowd at Arun Jaitley Stadium witnessed a spectacular batting display in the 60th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 during the game between Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Titans. The Titans, led by Shubman Gillwon the toss and elected to field first, aiming to exploit early conditions and put Delhi under pressure. However, the decision backfired dramatically as Kl satisfied produced a batting masterclass, silencing the opposition and electrifying the home crowd. Rahul’s innings was a blend of timing, temperament, and technique – a knock that not only anchored Delhi’s innings but also carved his name deeper into the IPL history books.
Rahul, opening for Delhi, played an innings for the ages. Starting with measured caution, he reached his fifty off 35 balls, anchoring the innings even as wickets fell at the other end. But once set, Rahul unleashed his full array of strokes, accelerating with sublime timing and power. The moment of history arrived in the 17th over, as Rahul pulled a short ball from Prasidh Krishna to the boundary, bringing up his hundred off just 60 balls.
This was not just any century- it was Rahul’s fifth in IPL history, and more significantly, it made him the first player ever to score IPL hundreds for three different franchises: Punjab Kings, Lucknow Super Giants and now Delhi Capitals. His innings was a blend of elegance and aggression, featuring 14 boundaries and 4 sixes, and he finished unbeaten on 112 from 65 balls, striking at over 170. The crowd erupted with every milestone, fully aware they were witnessing something special.
Rahul’s knock also saw him surpass Virat Kohli as the fastest Indian to 8,000 T20 runs, achieving the feat in just 224 innings. Only Kohli, If Buttler and Chris Gayle have more IPL centuries than Rahul, underlining his status among the league’s batting greats.
Delhi rode on Rahul’s brilliance to post a formidable 199/3 in their 20 overs. The innings began cautiously, with Faf du Plessis departing early for 5, but Abishek porel (30 off 19) provided valuable support as the pair added 90 runs for the second wicket. Axar Patel chipped in with a brisk 25 off 16, while Tristan Stubbs finished with a cameo of 21 not out from just 10 balls, ensuring Delhi maintained momentum right through the death overs The Titans’ bowlers toiled hard, with only Arshad khan, Sai Kishore and Prasidh Krishna managing a wicket each. Despite their efforts, they struggled to contain Rahul’s onslaught, especially in the latter half of the innings. Delhi’s run rate hovered near 10 throughout, thanks to Rahul’s calculated assault and the lower order’s finishing flourish.