New Delhi, Nov 13 – Indian cricketer KL Rahul, currently one of the IPL's most consistent batsmen, reflected on his iconic 2018 season with Punjab Kings, where he set a record by scoring a fifty off just 14 balls against Delhi Capitals. Rahul recalled how 2018 was "the best T20 year" of his career, achieving over 650 runs and forming a strong opening partnership with Chris Gayle.
Joining Punjab Kings for ₹11 crore, Rahul felt the pressure but embraced the opportunity, enjoying the freedom to play his natural game. This match-winning 51 off 14 balls showcased his form and confidence after his recent T20I debut for India.
Rahul attributed much of his evolution as a player to observing legends like Rahul Dravid and Kane Williamson, who excelled without altering their natural style. Inspired by them, Rahul realized that he didn't need to hit big sixes or change his game to succeed in T20 cricket. Later, during his time with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 2016, guidance from Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers helped him refine his technique.
In the recent IPL 2025 retentions, Lucknow Super Giants released Rahul, ending his captaincy tenure. LSG retained Nicholas Pooran as their most valued player at ₹21 crore, followed by Ravi Bishnoi and Mayank Yadav.
With 4, 683 runs in 132 IPL games, including 37 fifties and 4 hundreds, KL Rahul’s career continues to flourish as he looks back fondly on his journey from his breakout 2018 season to his current standing as one of IPL’s leading batters.