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Homegrown Hero Turns Destroyer: When KL Rahul’s 132 Flattened Kohli's RCB In IPL 2020

Poulomi Chakraborty

KL Rahul In Kings XI Punjab's Jersey (Source: @TheYorkarBall/x.com)KL Rahul In Kings XI Punjab's Jersey (Source: @TheYorkarBall/x.com)

In global cricket, a calm, composed, and tactical batter like KL Rahul is rare. With outstanding flexibility behind the stumps, his batting techniques are always a treat to the fans. Just not on the global stage, the wicketkeeper-batter has showcased his excellence even in the IPL arena.

In 2020, when IPL was shifted from India to Dubai, KL Rahul decked up the Dubai International Cricket Stadium with his out-of-the-world unbeaten innings of 132 runs against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. His explosive innings not only mesmerized fans but also crushed RCB, sealing a commanding victory for his side.

Rahul’s Unbeaten 132 Blitz Demolishes RCB Bowling

Starting as a youngster, the Indian Premier League has witnessed KL Rahul’s rise as an exceptional batter over the years. Among his many stellar performances, his explosive unbeaten 132-run knock against RCB remains his most iconic masterpiece.

In 2020, when the IPL was shifted to Dubai due to COVID, the Dubai International Stadium witnessed one of his best knocks in the IPL. In the 6th match of the tournament, Kings XI Punjab crossed swords with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. While batting first, Punjab skipper KL Rahul opened the innings with Mayank Agarwal, and the rest is history now.

Rahul blazed to a half-century in just 36 balls, then shifted gears to smash a century in just 26 more. A dropped catch by Virat Kohli gave him two lifelines, and he made RCB pay, staying unbeaten on a stunning 132 off 69 balls. With 14 boundaries and 7 over-boundaries, with a whopping strike rate of 191.30, that has been scripted as one of the best knocks of his IPL career.


Kings Dominate, Challengers Crumble

After KL Rahul’s fireworks in the first innings, the Kings XI Punjab put on a massive total of 206/3 on the board. While chasing down the total, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru had already found themselves under pressure after losing quick wickets. Opener Devdutt Padikkal fell for just 1, while Aaron Finch managed 20 before walking back, leaving RCB in deep trouble.

The pressure mounted on RCB as Mohammad Shami sent Josh Phillippe on a duck, and Cottrell removed Kohli in just 1 run. Despite AB de Villiers' 28 and Washington Sundar’s 30, the batting lineup collapsed under relentless pressure. Kings XI Punjab sealed a crushing 97-run victory, leaving RCB in shambles.