KL Rahul Biography: India’s Stylish Batter – Stats, Runs & Achievements
KL Rahul Introduction to Cricket
Kannaur Lokesh Rahul, usually called KL Rahul, grew up in a Mangalore family of teachers and scholars yet forged a career marked by elegance and flair. He picked up a bat at ten, shuffling around the dry, uneven outfields of the National Institute of Technology Karnataka-light years from modern practice facilities-where his father lectured. Spotting that promise, his parents soon linked him with the Bangalore United Cricket Club and a local team back home, placing him under the watchful eye of coach Samuel Jayaraj. By age twelve he appeared in under-age contests, and after moving to Bangalore at eighteen to study at Jain University he trained daily at the Karnataka State Cricket Association academy. His break-out season arrived during the 2013-14 Ranji Trophy; he piled up 1,033 runs-including three hundreds-helping Karnataka lift the trophy and earning the Player of the Match medal in the final. That form, paired with a career-defining 337-run triple century against Uttar Pradesh the following year, catapulted him into the Indian Test side and cleared a route toward international acclaim.
Full Name
Kannaur Lokesh Rahul
Nickname(s)
Affectionately dubbed KLR and sometimes called The Wall 2.0 after his inspiration Rahul Dravid, he is prized for calmness that belies his youthful face.
Date of Birth
April 18, 1992, in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Country Represented
India
KL Rahul Batting and Bowling Style
KL Rahul bats right-handed and occasionally keeps wickets. His classical technique and smooth timing let him open or settle in at first drop. He rarely bowls during matches.
KL Rahul Debut
Test Debut: v. Australia, Dec. 26, 2014, at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
ODI Debut: v. Zimbabwe, June 11, 2016, at Harare Sports Club.
T20I Debut: v. Zimbabwe, June 18, 2016, at Harare Sports Club.
IPL Debut: v. Mumbai Indians, April 11, 2013, for Royal Challengers Bangalore at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
KL Rahul Major Achievements
KL Rahul has set several records and reached noteworthy milestones:
First Indian to Score a Century on ODI Debut: Made 100 off 115 balls* against Zimbabwe in 2016, hitting the only six of the match.
Fastest to Score Centuries in All Three Formats: Did so in 20 innings, beating Ahmed Shehzads previous mark of 76 innings.
Fastest IPL Fifty: Crammed 50 runs off just 14 balls against Delhi Daredevils in 2018, joint-second quickest in IPL history.
Orange Cap Winner: Led the IPL with 670 runs for Punjab Kings in 2020.
Most Runs in a Ranji Trophy Season by a Karnataka Player: Accumulated 1,033 runs in 2013-14, highlighted by three centuries.
First Indian to Score Centuries in All Formats as an Opener: Completed the feat with a T20I century of 110* from 51 deliveries against the West Indies in 2016.
Triple Century in First-Class Cricket: Posted 337 against Uttar Pradesh in 2014, marking Kar-natkas maiden triple hundred.
Champions Trophy 2025 Contribution: Key knocks of 42 off 34 balls in the semifinal and 34 off 33 balls in the final helped India clinch the title.
Most Consecutive 500+ Run IPL Seasons: Surpassed 500 runs in five consecutive seasons, from 2018 to 2022.
KL Rahul stepped onto the international scene in late 2014 when he made his debut in red-ball cricket, though early nerves saw him muster only three and one runs in that opening Test. He silenced the doubters shortly thereafter, notching 110 at the Sydney Cricket Ground in his second match and hinting at the class that lay beneath. The following year his adaptability became clear: he piled up runs on debut in both one-day and T20 internationals, posting hundreds against Zimbabwe and the West Indies. Domestically, stints with Royal Challengers Bangalore and Punjab Kings included a breathtaking 14-ball fifty in 2018, a mark that earned him wider recognition. Injuries-ranging from a shoulder strain in 2017 to a thigh tear in 2023-have forced him to recalibrate, yet he has opened, batted in the middle order, and kept wicket without complaint. High points in the longest format include a fluent 199 against England in 2017 and a polished 129 against South Africa four years later. During the 2023 World Cup he accumulated 452 runs, most notably anchoring the semifinal against Australia with an unbeaten 97. His captaincy against South Africa in early 2022 and the steely 137 at Headingley in 2025 further underlined his mental fortitude. As of July 2025 he still represents India and turns out for Delhi Capitals in the IPL, juggling the dual demands of batsman and occasional wicket-keeper.
KL Rahul Key Career Numbers (as of July 2025)
Test Cricket:
Matches: 61
Runs: 3,392
Batting Average: 34.26
Centuries: 9
Fifties: 19
Highest Score: 199 vs England (2017)
Dismissals (as keeper): 68 (62 catches, 6 stumpings)
Man of the Match: 4
ODI Cricket:
Matches: 75
Runs: 2,838
Batting Average: 50.68
Centuries: 7
Fifties: 18
Highest Score: 112 vs England (2019)
Dismissals (as keeper): 75 (64 catches, 11 stumpings)
Man of the Match: 6
Man of the Series: 2
T20I Cricket:
Matches: 72
Runs: 2,265
Batting Average: 37.75
Centuries: 2
Fifties: 22
Highest Score: 110 vs West Indies (2016)*
Dismissals (as keeper): 35 (30 catches, 5 stumpings)
Man of the Match: 5
IPL:
Matches: 145
Runs: 5,222
Batting Average: 46.21
Centuries: 5
Fifties: 40
Highest Score: 132 vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (2020)*
Dismissals (as keeper): 90 (80 catches, 10 stumpings)
Man of the Match: 10
Total International Runs: 8,495 (Test, ODI, T20I combined).
Total International Dismissals: 178 (156 catches, 22 stumpings).
KL Rahul Leadership and Captaincy
Across all formats, KL Rahul has steadily embraced captaincy duties. In 2022 he steered India in two Tests against South Africa, earning the distinction of being the national sides thirty-fourth Test skipper, and he has also overseen fourteen One-Day Internationals and nine T20 Internationals, highlighted by a clean-sweep 3-0 series victory in Zimbabwe during 2016. At the domestic level, while leading Punjab Kings between 2020 and 2021, he amassed 670 runs to claim the Orange Cap, and more recently his tenure with Lucknow Super Giants from 2022 through 2024 included a playoff appearance in 2022 after he contributed 616 runs. Observers regularly praise his composed on-field demeanor and his willingness to mentor emerging talent-for instance, young Axar Patel at Delhi Capitals in 2025-qualities that enhance his value to every squad.
KL Rahul Notable World Cup Performances
During the 2019 ODI World Cup, he totaled 361 runs, highlighted by a century against Sri Lanka after moving to the opener position following Shikhar Dhawans injury, and he contributed a fifty in another match. In the 2023 tournament, he amassed 452 runs, featuring an unbeaten 97 against Australia and 66 in the final while also fulfilling the wicketkeeping role, thus anchoring Indias middle order at crucial junctures. His steady batting was equally important at the 2025 Champions Trophy, where he scored 42 off 34 balls in the semifinal against Australia and 34 off 33 balls in the final, helping stabilize two pressure-filled chases and contributing to Indias eventual title win.
2021 and 2022 T20 World Cups: Rahul tallied 128 runs in each event, highlighted by a half-century against South Africa in 2022, yet he was left out of the squad for the 2024 tournament.
Personal Life and Charitable Work
Off the pitch, KL Rahul remains surprisingly down-to-earth given his celebrity status. Coming from an academically minded family, he values education and donates to grassroots cricket academies across Karnataka. During the pandemic he funded COVID relief in Mangalore and later teamed with groups promoting mental health, drawing on his own battles with injuries and public pressure, especially after the 2019 talk-show episode with Hardik Pandya. His fondness for tattoos, coffee, and travel shows up on social media, where he regularly shares small victories and inspires fans with quiet resilience.
KL Rahul Business Ventures
KL Rahuls estimated net worth of over 95 crore INR in 2025 largely results from cricket salaries, endorsements, and targeted investments. He earns about 15 lakh INR per Test, 6 lakh INR for each One-Day game, and 3 lakh INR per T20 through ongoing partnerships with Puma, Gatorade, Bharat Pe, and others. Beyond these deals, RL Rahul has several entrepreneurial interests:
Cornerstone Sport: He co-owns the agency that manages both established stars and promising athletes across multiple disciplines.
Startup Investments: The batsman backs a range of fitness and wellness enterprises based in Bengaluru, aiming to tap into Indias growing health-conscious market.
Real Estate: Luxury apartments and penthouses in Bandra and Yemalur underline his faith in maturing Mumbai and Bengaluru property markets.
Rahuls 2025 IPL price of 14 crore INR at the Delhi Capitals auction reinforces his status as a sought-after player and savvy businessman.
KL Rahul Family Details & Personal Life
Father: Prof. K.N. Lokesh, former NITK director and respected engineering professor from Mangaluru.
Mother: Rajeshwari, lecturer at Mangalore University, who shaped his early academic discipline.
Spouse: On January 23, 2023, he exchanged vows with actress-athiya shetty, daughter of film star Suniel shetty, after dating since 2019.
Child: Their daughter, name yet to be revealed, arrived in February 2024, marking a new chapter for the young couple.
Post-Retirement
As of July 2025, KL Rahul has not stepped away from the game and continues to captain the Delhi Capitals in the IPL while representing India on the international stage. When he eventually retires, observers expect him to move into coaching or television commentary, areas where his tactical insight and calm demeanor could prove valuable. His current work with Cornerstone Sport and philanthropic projects, especially those supporting grassroots cricket, will probably expand. Given his experience at the helm of IPL franchises and international squads, many see Rahul steering sports policy or taking on a prominent role in the cricketing media landscape.
Fun Fact
Rahul’s first name actually grew out of a small mix-up; his father, a lifelong Sunil Gavaskar devotee, meant to honour Gavaskar’s son Rohan but accidentally wrote down Rahul, thereby linking the boy to the legend’s own close mentor, Rahul Dravid.
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