Lucknow skipper, KL Rahul played an outstanding knock in what was his sixth game for the new franchise against Mumbai on Saturday at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. The Lucknow skipper notched his first century of the ongoing season and third century in his Indian T20 League career.
Interestingly, it was his 100th Indian T20 League match and, with that, he also became the first player to score a century in his hundredth match. After being asked to bat first by Mumbai, KL Rahul made a cautious start in the first six overs. He played as a second fiddle to Quinton de Kock before the latter got out in the 6th over. KL Rahul had only scored 27 runs in 20 balls at the end of the power play.
However, once he got set and the field opened, the Lucknow skipper shifted gears and wreaked havoc with the bat. While he played cautiously to Jasprit Bumrah, the skipper ripped apart the likes of Fabien Allen and Tymal Mills. KL Rahul hit 9 fours and 5 sixes en route to an unbeaten 103-run knock in just 60 balls. He played that special knock at a strike rate of 171.67.
His unbeaten knock helped Lucknow reach a formidable score of 199 runs at the end of the first innings. The likes of Manish Pandey (38 off 29) and Deepak Hooda (15 of 8) also gave him valuable support with the bat. With that knock, KL Rahul now has jumped to the second spot in the list of the highest-run scorer in the tournament. He now has 235 runs in 6 matches in the ongoing season.
The fans were in awe of KL Rahul’s special knock played on Saturday. Both the fans and the cricket experts took to Twitter to heap praise on Lucknow’s skipper. Here’s a look at some of the best reactions.
If not the nicest player to watch in the game he has to be bloody close .. @klrahul11 is a pleasure to watch .. All young players should try and copy him .. #IPL2022
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) April 16, 2022
Hundred by KL Rahul in 56 balls. What a knock by him, it's been a captain's knock. Just marvelous from KL, sheer class. 2nd IPL hundred against Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/nZ01j0jPhQ
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 16, 2022
KL Rahul is fast becoming one of my top 3 batters in the world to watch!
— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) April 16, 2022
You can never tire of watching KL Rahul bat. And, happily, he is batting with the freedom that he is blessed with.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 16, 2022
What a player @klrahul11 💥
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) April 16, 2022
KL Rahul went from 21st position to 2nd position in Orange Cap race in 1 innings pic.twitter.com/U0ypBnhDyE
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) April 16, 2022
First IPL centuries for each team :-
— Rhitankar Bandyopadhyay (@rhitankar8616) April 16, 2022
KKR - Brendon McCullum
CSK - Mike Hussey
Deccan - Andrew Symonds
MI - Sanath Jayasuriya
PBKS - Shaun Marsh
DC - AB de Villiers
RCB - Manish Pandey
RR - Yusuf Pathan
RPS - Steve Smith
SRH - David Warner
LSG - KL Rahul (today)#IPL2022 #MIvLSG
This KL Rahul 100 celebration even made Gautam Gambhir smile 🤩#IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/9tVqEXP3Lf
— India Fantasy (@india_fantasy) April 16, 2022
Orange cap and KL Rahul . The best love story ever. #KLRahul pic.twitter.com/IUdu4DRskY
— Yash (@Yashrajput027) April 16, 2022
KL Rahul celebrating his 100 while LSG fails to go beyond 200 pic.twitter.com/h0YpGPLTrr
— Trash (@dntaskabeg) April 16, 2022
CENTURY! How much does KL Rahul love Mumbai? 2nd ton vs Mumbai. First guy to hit a century in his 100th IPL game? Top knock, accelerated well today. Good stuff.
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) April 16, 2022
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