KL Rahul's top 5 knocks in the IPL

KL Rahul, one of the mainstays of the Indian team, is celebrating his 32nd birthday on April 18 (Thursday). He is currently captaining the Lucknow Super Giants in the ongoing 17th season of the IPL. While he is yet to make a significant impact with the bat this season, he has been a consistent performer throughout his IPL career.

Rahul looked in fine touch in the last couple of matches but failed to convert his starts into big knocks. After a brilliant start to their campaign with three wins in the first four games, LSG lost their momentum with losses against the Delhi Capitals and the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Rahul remains an integral part of the LSG batting line-up and will be important to his team's chances in the upcoming games. Despite being one of the most consistent batters in the tournament, his strike rate has been a major area of concern.

On his birthday, let us now relive his top five knocks in the IPL:

# 5. 51 off 16 balls for Kings XI Punjab vs Delhi Daredevils in 2018

Rahul en route to a 14 ball fifty against the Delhi Daredevils.

In 2018, the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali was treated to some impeccable stroke-making from KL Rahul. In those days, Rahul was at his flamboyant best and was always eager to put bowling attacks to the sword. Against the Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals), Rahul smashed the then-fastest IPL fifty off just 14 deliveries.

The Daredevils posted a competitive score of 166, but what transpired in the powerplay of the Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) innings was simply phenomenal. Rahul blasted his way to a half-century, but was dismissed soon after crossing the landmark.

However, his knock of 51 off 16 deliveries paved the way for a relatively comfortable run chase. His knock was studded with six fours and four sixes. Punjab stuttered a bit in the middle overs but a half-century from Karun Nair ensured they chased down the target with seven deliveries to spare.

# 4. 98* off 42 balls for Punjab Kings vs Chennai Super Kings in 2021

Back in 2021, the yellow army was at the receiving end of a staggering knock from KL Rahul. He smashed a 42-ball 98 to lead his side to a convincing seven-wicket victory with seven overs to spare. An exceptional bowling effort from Punjab restricted CSK to a below-par score of 134.

Faf du Plessis was the chief contributor for CSK with a 76-run knock. The target of 135 was never going to be enough, and Rahul ensured that CSK didn't get back into the game.

He kept plundering the bowlers to all corners of the Dubai International Stadium, scoring a whirlwind 98 and taking his side home with seven overs to spare. His knock was studded with seven fours and eight sixes.

# 3. 103* off 60 balls for Lucknow Super Giants vs Mumbai Indians in 2022

Rahul was appointed the captain of the newly formed Lucknow Super Giants in 2022 and he didn't disappoint. In one of the group games at the Brabourne Stadium against the Mumbai Indians, Rahul smashed a brilliant century to set up a win for Lucknow.

Batting first, LSG posted a more than competitive score of 199 in their allotted 20 overs. Rahul started off with a flurry of boundaries, then slowed down a bit in the middle overs and then went hammers and tongs in the final overs to complete his century.

His knock was studded with nine fours and five sixes. The Mumbai Indians kept losing wickets at regular intervals and despite some useful partnerships in the middle overs, they eventually fell short of the target by 18 runs.

# 2. 103* off 62 balls for Lucknow Super Giants vs Mumbai Indians in 2022

Just eight days after scoring his first century for the Super Giants, Rahul smashed yet another century against the same opposition, setting up a resounding 36 run victory for LSG. Batting first, Lucknow scored a competitive 168 in their allotted 20 overs and it didn't look enough at the halfway stage, especially given the ground dimensions at Wankhede.

Yet again Rahul carried his bat through the innings, remaining unbeaten on 103. It was a proper KL Rahul knock, which was fiery at the start, a little circumspect in the middle overs and then trying to unleash in the death overs. His knock included 12 fours and four sixes.

On the back of a splendid bowling performance from Krunal Pandya and some tight overs from Dushmantha Chameera and Mohsin Khan, the LSG bowlers never allowed the MI batters to get away. MI eventually fell 36 runs short of the target.

# 1. 132* off 69 deliveries for Kings XI Punjab vs Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2020

This is arguably one of the greatest IPL knocks ever and it also remains the highest individual score for an Indian batter in the IPL. The 2020 season was played in the UAE and Rahul developed an affinity for scoring big runs in the Middle East.

The RCB bowlers faced the wrath of a brutal knock from the Punjab skipper. They posted a massive 206 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to Rahul's knock. He toyed with the RCB bowlers and smashed 14 fours and seven sixes during his belligerent knock.

RCB were never in the run chase as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Ravi Bishnoi and Murugan Ashwin bagged three wickets each to derail Bangalore's progress, eventually bowling them out for just 109 runs in 17 overs.