KL Rahul becomes the fastest Indian batsman to score 5000 T20 runs

Punjab Kings skipper KL Rahul has now become the fastest Indian batsman to score 5,000 runs in the game's shortest format. The Karnataka batsman got this achievement during the IPL 2021 match between the Punjab Kings and the Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai. KL Rahul had an awful outing with the bat against Sunrisers Hyderabad in match No.14 of the Indian Premier League. Despite that, Rahul still managed to enter his name in the T20 history books. He has now joined the likes of Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina by entering the 5,000 runs club in the game's shortest format. For the record, Rahul has surpassed Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli by becoming the fastest Indian to score 5,000 T20 runs.

To enter his name in the elite list, KL Rahul only required to score a single run against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The Karnataka batsman is the fastest Indian batsman to score 5000 runs in the shortest format, whereas legendary opening batsman Chris Gayle is the quickest overall. He achieved the same feat in his 132 innings, whereas Rahul took 143 innings to score 5000 runs. 

KL Rahul's excellent record in international cricket

Talking about the match, KL Rahul only managed to score 4 runs off 6 balls. The Punjab Kings captain was removed in the 4th over bowled by senior seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar. KL Rahul's opening partner Mayank Agarwal chipped in with a vital 22 off 25 balls. Shahrukh Khan also scored 17-ball 22 as Punjab managed to set up a below-par total of 120 runs against SRH at the Chepauk. David Warner and Co. now need 121 runs to grab their first win of the new IPL season.

KL Rahul is considered among the most proficient opening batsmen in India's cricket circuit today. Before making India debut, KL Rahul represented India in the 2010 Under-19 World Cup. The 28-year-old is the third Indian batsman to score a hundred in all three formats of the game.

Rahul is Karnataka's first triple-centurion, amassing 337 against Uttar Pradesh. Talking about statistics, KL Rahul has featured in 36 Test matches so far, accumulating 2006 runs at an average of 34.59 with five centuries and 11 half-centuries in the purest format of the game. In ODIs, the batsman has represented the country in 35 matches scoring 1332 runs at an average of 45.9 with four centuries and seven half-centuries. His T20I record has also been brilliant as the young lad has played a total of 49 matches for India scoring 1557 runs at an average of 45.66 with two centuries and 11 half-centuries.

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