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IPL 2021, PBKS vs SRH: KL Rahul becomes fastest Indian to reach 5000 T20 runs

Since joining the Punjab franchise in 2018, KL Rahul has scored more than 500 IPL runs in each season, ended in top-three of the run-getters charts for the team.

By Amruth Kalidas | Apr 21, 2021 | 2 Min Read

KL Rahul may have ended the last season of the Indian Premier League as the highest run-getter of the tournament, but he still has an unaccomplished task of winning the maiden title for Punjab Kings (PBKS). The franchise continues to put their trust in the Karnataka batsman though, as they entered IPL 2021 with a new name and jersey but an unchanged captain.

On Wednesday, PBKS skipper Rahul reached a milestone of 5000 runs in his T20 career in just 143 innings. He brought up the milestone during the IPL 2021 game vs Sunrisers Hyderabad.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #SaddaPunjab #PunjabKings #IPL2021 #PBKSvSRH pic.twitter.com/p6QsXvxqbe

— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) April 21, 2021

Rahul has been in a spectacular form ever since he moved to Punjab from his home team Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2018. The same year, he recorded the fastest IPL fifty off 14 balls against Delhi Capitals.

STAGGERING NUMBERS

This was just the start as he ended the 2018 season as the third-highest run-getter with 659 runs, at an average of 54.91 and a strike rate of 158.41 with 6 fifties. The following year, he scored 593 runs (at an average of 53.90) to finish as the second-highest run-scorer of IPL 2019. KL Rahul won the orange cup last year by score 670 runs in 14 matches. He will be the top contender among top run-scorers, not just among Punjab Kings batsmen, but among other top batsmen.

Rahul fell one run short of hitting 5000 runs in T20 cricket in the IPL 2021 game against Delhi Capitals. He had a chance to become the first Indian to score 5000 runs in the fastest time possible. When it comes to Indian batsmen, Virat Kohli holds the record for completing 5000 runs in the shortest innings. In 167 innings, he has accomplished this feat.

In terms of the overall record, Chris Gayle of the West Indies scored 5000 runs in 132 innings in T20 cricket. Sean Marsh is in second position with 144 innings. KL Rahul becomes the second quickest batsmen to pass the 5000-run mark in 143 innings.