IPL 2019: Top 3 knocks by KL Rahul in IPL history
KL Rahul had a phenomenal IPL season last year. He ended the season at third place with 659 runs in 14 games, and was instrumental to the fortunes of his team Kings XI Punjab.
Rahul's good form in IPL meant that there were high expectations from the fans about him performing well in the international circuit too. But what actually happened was a totally different story.
Rahul managed to score just one century against England, in the final Test, along with a solitary half-century. His showing in Australia was even worse, and by the end of it he had lost his place in the side.
Rahul now has a chance to redeem himself as IPL 2019 begins in just over a month. On that note, here's a look at 3 of Rahul's best IPL innings over the years:
#3 51 runs in 16 balls against Delhi Dardevils, 2018
Rahul had an average beginning to his IPL career, but he peaked during the 2018 IPL season. It is not surprising, then, that all three of his best innings are from the 2018 season.
In the match against Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals), Punjab won the toss and elected to field first. A well-played fifty from Delhi's new captain Gautam Gambhir and cameos from others helped them to post a decent 166 runs on the board.
But what they saw next from Rahul was absolute carnage. The Karnataka opener smashed 16 runs in the first over off Trent Boult. He then kept hitting fours and sixes in the coming overs, and there was no relief for the Delhi bowlers.
Rahul reached his half-century in 14 balls, breaking the record for the fastest fifty in IPL history in the process, and ended the innings with 51 runs in 16 balls.
This was easily one of the best IPL innings ever. The blazing start helped Punjab reach the target inside 19 overs.