IPL 2021: Gautam Gambhir backs KL Rahul to score 2-3 hundreds in UAE

Virat Kohli had a breakthrough 2016 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, wherein he managed to score a record-shattering 973 runs. Kohli still holds the record for most runs in an IPL season. But former India batter Gautam Gambhir believes that Punjab Kings (PKBS) skipper KL Rahul can have a similar season like the one Kohli and can score two to three hundreds.

Rahul scored 331 runs averaging 66, and at a strike rate of 136 in the seven games that he played for Punjab Kings during the first half of IPL 2021. Opening the innings for PKBS, the right-hand batter has been the rock of the team often playing the sheet anchor’s role to perfection. He is also their main batter, and the majority of PKBS's fortunes hinges on Rahul’s performance with the willow. Gambhir sounded optimistic about Rahul continuing his good form in the UAE leg of IPL.

"We haven't seen the best of KL Rahul. Yes, he has got runs, but we still haven't seen, what he can achieve in his batting," Gambhir told Star Sports show Game Plan.

"You could have a season like Virat Kohli had once. He's that kind of a player in white-ball cricket, where he can get 2-3 hundreds in a season and at a very good strike rate as well," he said.

PKBS are currently placed sixth on the points table, winning three and losing five games out of the eight matches they have played. They will kick off their UAE leg of IPL against Rajasthan Royals on September 21 in Dubai.

Speaking about their team, the franchise has roped in Nathan Ellis and Aiden Markram in the team as replacement players for the UAE leg of IPL.