KL Rahul on May 6 won the game single-handedly for Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in an Indian Premier League 2018 match at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. This takes Punjab to the third spot with 12 points out of 6 wins in nine matches.
During the game, Punjab’s new recruit this year, KL Rahul went on to register his highest-ever IPL score (84) to take his team home with a 6-wicket win over Rajasthan.
Right from the start of their run-chase, KL Rahul made his intentions clear — to slam bowlers all around the park. In his 54-ball knock, Rahul smashed seven boundaries and three sixes.
So far in this tournament, KL Rahul has managed to put up three half-centuries, including the fastest-ever IPL fifty. No doubt, KL Rahul has played a key role in KXIP’s brilliant run in IPL 2018 season. Punjab need a couple more victories to fix their place in this year’s playoffs.
Impressed with Rahul’s brilliance with the bat, many Indian Cricket fans have started demanding to replace Rohit Sharma with KL Rahul as the opener. Rohit, who is leading the struggling Mumbai Indians (MI) side, is going through a lean patch. In 10 matches played so far in IPL 2018, the MI skipper has managed to score 231 runs with 94 being his highest. He is currently at Number 20 on the list of ‘Most Runs Scored by a Batsman’ in IPL 2018, while KL Rahul is at Number 4 with 376 runs under his belt.
Here are some of the reactions:
Rohit Sharma Position in Danger!
KL RAHUL Was Just Outstanding Tonight.. He Must Be In #CWC19 or Else India RIP_#MIvKKR #KXIPvRR #klrahul #IPL2018 #VIVOIPL #VIVOIPL2018 #rohit— HARSH (ABD17 & MSD7) (@Abd_MsdFC) May 6, 2018
Why not KL RAHUL in place of Rohit Sharma?? I repeat Why ?#KXIPvRR
— _Sudhanshu_ (@beingsudhanshu_) May 6, 2018
@BCCI don’t do the mistake again by picking up Rohit sharma instead of KL Rahul for an opening spot @imVkohli @klrahul11 @ImRo45 @Imkl
— Capt. Hemant Kumar (@HemantCapt) May 6, 2018
#CBhaveyoursay If IPL form is anything to go by, then kl Rahul and not Rohit sharma should now be Indian team opener! Isn’t it?
— arnab (@arnabsaha610) May 4, 2018
Yeah! Surely agree With You!!
But This IPL season Is Not Gud for Rohit Sharma!
And If KL RAHUL Will Not Be Part Of CWC19!
It will surely be very hard for Team India to win! Coz Dhoni and Kohli can’t win whole Tournament!— HARSH (ABD17 & MSD7) (@Abd_MsdFC) 7 May 2018
KXIP bought KL Rahul for Rs 11 crore during the players’ auction held earlier this year. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) too bid for him rigorously but in the end, it was KXIP who got him.
On the other hand, Mumbai retained its captain Rohit Sharma for Rs 15 crore. Rohit has been an integral part of Mumbai Indians since 2011 and he led MI to lift three IPL titles in 2013, 2015 and 2017.
