Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, May 18: KL Rahul reached a significant milestone on Sunday by becoming the fastest Indian to score 8,000 runs in Twenty20 cricket. The feat was achieved during Delhi Capitals’ crucial IPL 2025 match against Gujarat Titans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Needing 33 runs to hit the landmark, Rahul accomplished it in the powerplay, completing the milestone in just 224 innings — 19 innings faster than the previous Indian record holder, Virat Kohli.

Rahul now ranks third fastest in the world to reach 8,000 T20 runs, behind only the legendary Chris Gayle (213 innings) and Pakistan’s Babar Azam (218 innings).

Fastest to 8,000 Runs in T20 Cricket

1. Chris Gayle – 213 innings
2. Babar Azam – 218 innings
3. KL Rahul – 224 innings
4. Virat Kohli – 243 innings
5. Mohammad Rizwan – 244 innings

Rahul has been in excellent form this season with Delhi Capitals. Before Sunday’s match, he scored 422 runs in 11 games at an average above 50 and a strike rate of 142.

In the match, Rahul was promoted to open the innings. After the early loss of Faf du Plessis, Rahul steadied the innings and ensured Delhi Capitals scored 45 runs in the powerplay. He then took on South African pacer Kagiso Rabada, hitting powerful sixes to boost the team’s momentum.

Rahul reached his fifty off just 35 balls, anchoring the Delhi Capitals’ batting effort.

Since his IPL debut in 2013, Rahul has amassed over 5,000 runs at an impressive average of 45. He made his T20 debut for Karnataka in 2013 and for India in 2016. Though a consistent performer in T20 internationals with 2,265 runs in 72 matches, Rahul has not played for India in the shortest format since the 2022 T20 World Cup and was absent from the 2024 T20 World Cup-winning squad.