KL Rahul : In a landmark moment that reaffirms his stature as one of the Indian Premier League’s modern greats, KL Rahul has etched his name into the annals of IPL history by becoming the fastest player to reach 5000 career runs. Rahul achieved the feat during a masterful unbeaten knock of 57 against his former team, the Lucknow Super Giants, leading Delhi Capitals to a convincing eight-wicket win at the Ekana Stadium.
The 33-year-old batting maestro reached the milestone in just 130 innings, beating the previous record set by David Warner, who took 135 innings. Indian legend Virat Kohli, the league’s all-time leading run-scorer, had taken 157 innings to reach the same mark.
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KL Rahul Creates IPL History: Fastest Ever to 5000 Runs, Leaving Warner and Kohli Behind
Fastest to 5000 IPL Runs:
| Player | Innings Taken |
|---|---|
| KL Rahul | 130 |
| David Warner | 135 |
| Virat Kohli | 157 |
| AB de Villiers | 161 |
| Shikhar Dhawan | 168 |
A Milestone Knock at the Perfect Time
With Delhi chasing 160 to win, Rahul showcased his calm temperament and class with a fluent 57* off 44 balls. He partnered with Abishek Porel (who also scored a fine fifty) to guide DC to their sixth win in eight matches, keeping them solidly placed at second in the IPL 2025 points table.
More than just a match-winner, Rahul’s innings was a statement — one that confirmed his comeback to top form and his growing reputation as a consistent run machine in T20 cricket.
KL Rahul’s IPL Numbers (as of now):
- Runs: 5006
- Innings: 130
- Average: 46.35 (highest among 5000+ run scorers)
- Strike Rate: 135.7
- 50s/100s: 40 fifties / 4 centuries
- Highest Score: 132*
Reinventing the Middle Order Role
While Rahul made his name as a dominant opener, IPL 2025 has seen him slide back into the middle order — a throwback to his early IPL days. Remarkably, he’s adapted effortlessly. Just a few games ago, he smashed 93 batting at No. 3*, proving his adaptability and cricketing intelligence.
| Batting Position | Matches | Runs | Average | SR | 50s | 100s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opener | 100 | 4260 | 48.96 | 137.15 | 36 | 4 |
| Middle Order | 30 | 746 | 35.52 | 128.62 | 4 | 0 |
Where Rahul Stands Among IPL Greats
With 5006 runs under his belt, KL Rahul is currently the 8th highest run-scorer in IPL history — and among active players, only Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and MS Dhoni are ahead of him. Given their advancing careers, Rahul is well poised to climb even higher in the coming seasons.
Top 5 All-Time IPL Run-Scorers:
| Rank | Player | Runs | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virat Kohli | 8326 | 252 |
| 2 | Rohit Sharma | 6786 | 259 |
| 3 | Shikhar Dhawan | 6769 | 221 |
| 4 | David Warner | 6565 | 184 |
| 5 | Suresh Raina | 5528 | 200 |
What This Means for Delhi Capitals
Rahul’s milestone comes at a crucial time in the IPL 2025 season. Delhi Capitals, with 12 points from 8 matches, are now neck-and-neck with table-toppers Gujarat Titans. Rahul’s leadership and form have been instrumental in DC’s strong campaign so far, and his ability to anchor the innings under pressure adds significant depth to their batting.
With the business end of the tournament approaching and Rahul in prime touch, expect more fireworks from the DC skipper. While the Orange Cap race is still tight — with players like Sai Sudharsan and Nicholas Pooran lighting up the charts — Rahul’s consistency might just see him surge ahead in the coming weeks.
As KL Rahul continues to rewrite records and deliver match-winning performances, one thing’s for sure — the 2025 IPL season is witnessing the rise of a true legend, one innings at a time.
FAQs
Who is the fastest to score 5000 runs in IPL history?
KL Rahul is the fastest, reaching 5000 runs in just 130 innings.
Who held the record before KL Rahul?
David Warner, who reached 5000 runs in 135 innings.
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