KL Rahul hit the fastest hundred for Delhi Capitals in IPL history (AP Photo)Manish Swarup

The V-King: KL Rahul breaks Virender Sehwag's record, hits 47-ball century for Delhi

IPL 2026, DC vs PBKS: KL Rahul, dropped on 12, went on to smash a 47-ball hundred for Delhi Capitals on Saturday. He was in complete control of proceedings, punishing the Punjab Kings spinners and pacers in the V at Arun Jaitley Stadium.

25 Apr 2026, 11:39 by Akshay Ramesh · India Today

In Short

KL Rahul hit the fastest hundred by a Delhi Capitals batter in IPL history
Rahul and Nitish Rana added 150-plus for the second wicket
The wicketkeeper-batter was dropped on 12 by Shashank Singh

Three dropped catches did not cost Punjab Kings against Lucknow Super Giants last Sunday; however, they might not be so fortunate following the sitter that the usual suspect, Shashank Singh, grassed on Saturday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Reprieved on just 12, KL Rahul proceeded to hammer a 47-ball century, making Punjab Kings pay dearly on a sweltering afternoon in the capital. | DC vs PBKS Updates - Scorecard |

KL Rahul went on to break the record for the highest individual score by an Indian batter in the IPL, becoming the first from teh country to go past 150. He finished with 152 off 67 balls (140 runs after the drop catch) as Delhi Capitals posted a mammoth score of 264 for 2 in 20 overs.

Rahul ensured he capitalised fully on the gift he was granted by smashing the fastest hundred by a Delhi Capitals batter in the history of the IPL. In doing so, the Karnataka batter eclipsed Virender Sehwag’s long-standing record of 15 years—a 48-ball century struck against the now-defunct Deccan Chargers back in 2011.

By recording his sixth ton, Rahul also drew level with Chris Gayle on the list of most centuries in the IPL. He is now only the fourth batter in the tournament’s history to score more than five hundreds, joining an elite group featuring Virat Kohli (8), Jos Buttler (7), and Gayle (6).

He is also the first player in the history of the IPL to score multiple hundreds for three different franchises – 2 for Punjab Kings, 2 for Lucknow Super Giants and now 2 for Delhi Capitals.

KL RAHUL'S RECORDS IN DC vs PBKS

1st Indian batter to hit 150 in the IPL: 152 in 67 balls
Fastest century by a Delhi Capitals batter: in 47 balls
First batter in the history of the IPL to hit multiple hundreds for three different franchises.

He finished with nine sixes and 16 boundaries, remaining unbeaten and receiving a standing ovation as he made his way back to the dressing room. Such was his dominance that Rahul had ample time to mark his milestones with a variety of celebrations, including a poignant tribute to his daughter after becoming the first Indian to surpass the 150-run mark.

THROUGH THE V

KL Rahul's wagon wheel (Screengrab from IPLT20.com)

Rahul appeared in imperious touch, ruthlessly taking the attack to both spin and pace. He was not merely punishing the loose balls; he was expertly dispatching good deliveries and forcing the fast bowlers off their lengths. Against Yuzvendra Chahal, Rahul focused his assault through the "V," ensuring he avoided risky cross-bat shots on a surface that was expected to slow down as the day progressed.

Rahul against Chahal (Screengrab from IPLT20)

He scored 59 runs through the long-on and long-off regions, hitting as many as 12 boundaries, ensuring it was a chanceless knock after the early dropped opportunity.

Rahul acted as the primary aggressor in a formidable partnership of over 150 runs with Nitish Rana, who also compiled a brisk half-century. Together, Rana and Rahul dominated a Punjab Kings bowling attack that was further undermined by some subpar fielding. Rana was particularly destructive against Xavier Bartlett, looting 28 runs in the 12th over from one of the season’s most successful bowlers.

"I mean only towards the end was I premeditating. Early on, I think for the first 70-80 runs, I wasn't really premeditating. I was just in a mindset to hit boundaries and put pressure on the bowlers," he said after his 151.

:My strength is always to play proper cricket shots. I was trying to back that and try and believe that that's good enough to get my team past 250, and I continued to do that. Only at the back end was I premeditating and when the field is set, when the bowlers go to the wide off-field or a spinner field, you know kind of what to expect."

Throughout the innings, Rahul looked exceptionally determined, sprinting hard between the wickets and maintaining enough fuel in the tank to push on even after reaching his milestone on a punishingly hot Delhi day.

Rahul got to his fifty in 26 balls and got to the next fifty in just 21 deliveries. The last 52 runs came in just 20 deliveries as the draining heat in Delhi did not deter the senior campaigner from pressing the accelerator throughout the knock.

Rahul was ably complemented by Nitish Rana, who added 91 runs in just 44 balls. The two added 220 runs in 96 balls – the second-highest partnership for any wicket in IPL history after AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli's 229 against Gujarat Lions in 2016.

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