When KL Rahul walked out for his IPL debut with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2013, he was a fringe wicketkeeper-batter with five matches and 20 runs to his name. Thirteen years on, he is the fifth-highest run-scorer in league history, with 5,815 runs, six hundreds and an Orange Cap earned in 2020. KL Rahul’s IPL stats chart one of the great reinventions of the T20 era: a technically correct Test-style opener who rebuilt himself into an elite anchor at Punjab Kings, became the most expensive Indian pick at Lucknow Super Giants, and then transformed his game again at Delhi Capitals, where his 152 not out against Punjab Kings in 2026 made him the first Indian to score 150 in an IPL innings.
Delhi Capitals have made their intentions clear. With trade rumours linking Rahul to Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of the IPL 2027 season, co-owner Parth Jindal publicly confirmed in September 2026 that the batter stays with the franchise, ending the speculation in a single social media post. This page tracks his complete IPL record season by season, his verified auction and retention prices, and what his confirmed 2027 status means for Delhi’s next campaign.
KL Rahul IPL Stats Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Kannur Lokesh Rahul |
| IPL Debut | 2013 (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) |
| Role | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Batting Style | Right-hand bat |
| Bowling Style | Not applicable (specialist batter) |
| Nationality | India |
| Current IPL Team | Delhi Capitals |
| IPL Matches | 159 |
| IPL Runs | 5,815 |
| Highest Score | 152* (vs Punjab Kings, Delhi, 2026) |
| IPL 2027 Team | Delhi Capitals (retention confirmed) |
| IPL 2027 Price | Not officially confirmed (retained at INR 14 crore for 2026) |
Who Is KL Rahul?
KL Rahul, born 18 April 1992 in Bengaluru, Karnataka, is an India international across all three formats and one of the most technically accomplished batters of his generation. A right-handed top-order batter who also keeps wicket, he arrived in the IPL in 2013 as a youngster from Karnataka and spent his first three seasons on the fringes at RCB and Sunrisers Hyderabad. His breakthrough came in 2016 with RCB, and his move to Kings XI Punjab at the 2018 mega auction for INR 11 crore turned him into one of the league’s premier batters, a role he has held ever since.
He captained Punjab Kings in 2020 and 2021, winning the Orange Cap in 2020, and then led Lucknow Super Giants from their inaugural season in 2022 through 2024. After LSG released him before the 2025 mega auction, Delhi Capitals signed him for INR 14 crore, and he has been their leading run-scorer in both seasons since, scoring 500-plus runs in each.
KL Rahul IPL Teams
| Season | Team | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Bought at auction (INR 10 lakh), 5 matches |
| 2014 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Bought at auction (INR 1 crore), 11 matches |
| 2015 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Retained (INR 1 crore), 9 matches |
| 2016 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Bought at auction (INR 1 crore), 14 matches |
| 2017 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Retained, missed the season through a shoulder injury |
| 2018 | Punjab Kings | Bought at the mega auction (INR 11 crore) |
| 2019 | Punjab Kings | Retained (INR 11 crore), named vice-captain |
| 2020 | Punjab Kings | Retained (INR 11 crore), captain, won the Orange Cap |
| 2021 | Punjab Kings | Retained (INR 11 crore), captain |
| 2022 | Lucknow Super Giants | Marquee draft pick (INR 17 crore), captain |
| 2023 | Lucknow Super Giants | Retained (INR 17 crore), captain |
| 2024 | Lucknow Super Giants | Retained (INR 17 crore), captain |
| 2025 | Delhi Capitals | Bought at the mega auction (INR 14 crore) |
| 2026 | Delhi Capitals | Retained (INR 14 crore), franchise’s top run-scorer |
| 2027 | Delhi Capitals | Retained, confirmed September 2026 |
Rahul’s franchise journey mirrors his career arc: the early moves between Bengaluru and Hyderabad, the defining four years in Punjab where he became an elite opener, the high-profile captaincy years at Lucknow, and now Delhi, where he has found his most aggressive form. His 2025 move to Delhi Capitals followed LSG’s decision to release him before the mega auction; Delhi paid INR 14 crore for a player who had captained Lucknow for three seasons.
KL Rahul IPL 2024 Stats
| Mat | Inn | Runs | HS | Avg | SR | 50s | 100s | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 14 | 520 | 82 | 37.14 | 136.13 | 4 | 0 | 45 | 19 |
Rahul’s final season as Lucknow Super Giants captain was his quietest with the franchise: 520 runs in 14 innings at an average of 37.14 and a strike rate of 136.13, with four fifties and a highest score of 82. The season played out under a cloud of strike-rate scrutiny, and his own assistant coach publicly defended him, pointing out how often Rahul had to rebuild after early wickets fell around him. It was a respectable tally in isolation, but well below the standards he had set in Punjab, and LSG’s decision to release him before the 2025 mega auction effectively closed the chapter.
KL Rahul IPL 2025 Stats
| Mat | Inn | Runs | HS | Avg | SR | 50s | 100s | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 13 | 539 | 112* | 53.90 | 149.72 | 3 | 1 | 52 | 21 |
Bought by Delhi Capitals for INR 14 crore at the 2025 mega auction, Rahul answered any doubts about the move with 539 runs in 13 innings at an average of 53.90 and a strike rate of 149.72, including three fifties and a hundred. The standout was his unbeaten 112 against Gujarat Titans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, though it came in a losing cause as the visitors won by 10 wickets. Playing alongside former LSG teammate Rishabh Pant and under the captaincy of Axar Patel, he settled quickly as Delhi’s most reliable batter.
KL Rahul IPL 2026 Stats
| Mat | Inn | Runs | HS | Avg | SR | 50s | 100s | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 14 | 593 | 152* | 45.61 | 174.41 | 5 | 1 | 56 | 31 |
The 2026 season was Rahul’s reinvention year. Retained by Delhi Capitals for INR 14 crore, he scored 593 runs in 14 innings at an average of 45.61 with a career-best strike rate of 174.41, finishing as the franchise’s leading run-scorer ahead of openers like Faf du Plessis and Jake Fraser-McGurk. The season included five fifties, a century, 56 fours and 31 sixes. His own words during the season summed up the shift: having been “never rated as a T20 player” early in his career, he had deliberately rebuilt his white-ball game. Delhi still missed the playoffs, but Rahul had answered the longest-running criticism of his career.
KL Rahul IPL 2027 Stats
IPL 2027 statistics are not available yet because the season has not started.
Rahul has been confirmed as a Delhi Capitals player for the season, with co-owner Parth Jindal publicly ending all trade speculation in September 2026. A mini auction is expected ahead of the season, and this section will be updated with his 2027 numbers once matches begin. Until then, his team and price details below are the only confirmed information.
KL Rahul IPL 2027 Team and Price
As of 10 October 2026, KL Rahul’s IPL 2027 team is Delhi Capitals, confirmed by co-owner Parth Jindal on 8 September 2026. The announcement ended weeks of rumours that Delhi were in talks with Kolkata Knight Riders over a trade, and Rahul himself replied publicly that he could not wait for the coming season.
His IPL 2027 price has not been officially confirmed. He was retained by Delhi Capitals at INR 14 crore for 2026 after being bought for the same amount at the 2025 mega auction. Delhi have had a busy build-up to 2027: Rishabh Pant returned to the franchise from Lucknow Super Giants, and Sourav Ganguly replaced Hemang Badani as head coach in October 2026. The captaincy remains undecided, with media reports suggesting Pant has declined the role and Rahul is among the contenders, though the franchise has announced nothing. Details of the season’s auction will be covered in our guide to the IPL 2027 auction date and venue, and the IPL 2027 mini auction vs mega auction explainer covers how the auction cycle works. Our page on the IPL 2027 retention deadline, rules and purse explains the framework Delhi used to keep him.
KL Rahul IPL Career Batting Stats
| Mat | Inn | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 159 | 150 | 24 | 5815 | 152* | 46.15 | 4179 | 139.14 | 6 | 45 | 508 | 239 |
KL Rahul IPL Stats by Year
| Season | Team | Mat | Inns | Runs | HS | Avg | SR | 50s | 100s | Wkts | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 5 | 2 | 20 | 12 | 10.00 | 125.00 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
| 2014 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 11 | 8 | 166 | 46 | 20.75 | 101.21 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
| 2015 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 9 | 8 | 142 | 44* | 28.40 | 112.69 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
| 2016 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 14 | 12 | 397 | 68* | 44.11 | 146.49 | 4 | 0 | – | – |
| 2017 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2018 | Punjab Kings | 14 | 14 | 659 | 95* | 54.92 | 158.41 | 6 | 0 | – | – |
| 2019 | Punjab Kings | 14 | 14 | 593 | 100* | 53.90 | 135.38 | 6 | 1 | – | – |
| 2020 | Punjab Kings | 14 | 14 | 670 | 132* | 55.83 | 129.34 | 5 | 1 | – | – |
| 2021 | Punjab Kings | 13 | 13 | 626 | 98* | 62.60 | 138.80 | 6 | 0 | – | – |
| 2022 | Lucknow Super Giants | 15 | 15 | 616 | 103* | 51.33 | 135.38 | 4 | 2 | – | – |
| 2023 | Lucknow Super Giants | 9 | 9 | 274 | 74 | 34.25 | 113.22 | 2 | 0 | – | – |
| 2024 | Lucknow Super Giants | 14 | 14 | 520 | 82 | 37.14 | 136.13 | 4 | 0 | – | – |
| 2025 | Delhi Capitals | 13 | 13 | 539 | 112* | 53.90 | 149.72 | 3 | 1 | – | – |
| 2026 | Delhi Capitals | 14 | 14 | 593 | 152* | 45.61 | 174.41 | 5 | 1 | – | – |
| 2027 | Delhi Capitals | Season not started (retained) | |||||||||
KL Rahul IPL Highest Score
KL Rahul’s highest IPL score is 152 not out, made against his former side Punjab Kings at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi during IPL 2026. Opening for Delhi Capitals, he faced 67 balls and struck 16 fours and 9 sixes, carrying his bat to take Delhi to 264 for 2, their highest team total in IPL history. The knock made him the first Indian batter to reach 150 in an IPL innings. It came in Match 35 of the season and finished in extraordinary fashion: Punjab chased down the 265 target in 18.5 overs, the highest successful chase in the league’s history, leaving Rahul’s masterpiece in a losing cause.
KL Rahul IPL Batting Records
Rahul’s batting records place him among the league’s all-time greats. He is the fifth-highest run-scorer in IPL history with 5,815 runs, and the only player to score 1,000 or more runs for three different franchises: 2,548 for Punjab Kings, 1,410 for Lucknow Super Giants and 1,132 for Delhi Capitals. His 152 not out in 2026 made him the first Indian to pass 150 in an IPL innings, and his 1,000th run for Delhi Capitals in May 2026 came in just 24 innings, the fastest to the landmark for the franchise. In 2018, his 14-ball fifty for Punjab set what was then the record for the fastest fifty in IPL history.
KL Rahul IPL Auction Price History
| Season | Team | Price (INR) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 10 lakh | Bought at auction (IPL debut season) |
| 2014 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 1 crore | Bought at auction |
| 2015 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 1 crore | Retained |
| 2016 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 1 crore | Bought at auction |
| 2017 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 1 crore | Retained, missed the season through injury |
| 2018 | Punjab Kings | 11 crore | Bought at the mega auction |
| 2019 | Punjab Kings | 11 crore | Retained (vice-captain) |
| 2020 | Punjab Kings | 11 crore | Retained (captain) |
| 2021 | Punjab Kings | 11 crore | Retained (captain) |
| 2022 | Lucknow Super Giants | 17 crore | Marquee draft pick (captain) |
| 2023 | Lucknow Super Giants | 17 crore | Retained (captain) |
| 2024 | Lucknow Super Giants | 17 crore | Retained (captain) |
| 2025 | Delhi Capitals | 14 crore | Bought at the mega auction |
| 2026 | Delhi Capitals | 14 crore | Retained |
| 2027 | Delhi Capitals | Not officially confirmed | Retained (confirmed September 2026) |
KL Rahul IPL Records and Achievements
- Won the Orange Cap in IPL 2020 with 670 runs for Punjab Kings at an average of 55.83.
- First and only player to score 1,000 or more IPL runs for three different franchises (Punjab Kings, Lucknow Super Giants, Delhi Capitals).
- First Indian batter to score 150 in an IPL innings (152* vs Punjab Kings, 2026).
- Fifth-highest run-scorer in IPL history with 5,815 runs in 159 matches.
- Fastest to 1,000 IPL runs for Delhi Capitals, reaching the mark in 24 innings in May 2026.
- Set the then-record for the fastest IPL fifty in 2018, reaching it in 14 balls for Punjab Kings.
- Scored 500 or more runs in four consecutive seasons for Punjab Kings (2018-2021).
- Captained Punjab Kings (2020-2021) and Lucknow Super Giants (2022-2024); six IPL hundreds and 45 fifties, both among the highest tallies for an Indian opener.
KL Rahul’s IPL Performance Analysis
The numbers tell the story in three acts. From 2013 to 2015, Rahul was a bit-part player whose average never crossed 30 and whose strike rate dipped as low as 101.21, a classic technically-sound batter who had not yet found his T20 method. The 2016 breakout at RCB (397 runs at 146.49) unlocked everything, and the Punjab years that followed were elite: four consecutive 500-plus seasons, averages above 53 in each, the Orange Cap in 2020, and a career average that still sits at 46.15, among the best for any long-serving opener.
The third act is about intent. His Lucknow captaincy years (2022-2024) produced one excellent season, 616 runs with two hundreds in 2022, and two declining ones, and the criticism he faced was always the same: the strike rate. His answer came at Delhi Capitals. In 2025 he lifted it to 149.72, and in 2026 he smashed it to 174.41 with 31 sixes, his most aggressive season ever and Delhi’s best batting return of the year. The pattern is unusual and impressive: a senior batter in his mid-thirties, in his 13th IPL season, producing the most attacking cricket of his career. With Delhi retaining him for 2027 and a new head coach in Sourav Ganguly, the question for next season is whether that attacking template holds, not whether he can score runs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which team does KL Rahul play for in IPL 2027?
Delhi Capitals. The franchise’s co-owner Parth Jindal confirmed in September 2026 that Rahul is retained for IPL 2027, ending rumours of a trade to Kolkata Knight Riders.
What is KL Rahul’s IPL 2027 price?
Not officially confirmed. He was retained by Delhi Capitals at INR 14 crore for the 2026 season after being bought for INR 14 crore at the 2025 mega auction.
How many runs has KL Rahul scored in the IPL?
KL Rahul has scored 5,815 runs in 159 IPL matches at an average of 46.15 and a strike rate of 139.14, making him the fifth-highest run-scorer in league history.
What is KL Rahul’s highest IPL score?
His highest score is 152 not out against Punjab Kings in Delhi during IPL 2026, the first 150-plus innings by an Indian in the IPL.
How many IPL centuries has KL Rahul scored?
He has scored 6 IPL centuries and 45 fifties. Two hundreds came for Punjab Kings, two for Lucknow Super Giants and two for Delhi Capitals.
Did KL Rahul win the IPL Orange Cap?
Yes. He won the Orange Cap in IPL 2020, scoring 670 runs for Punjab Kings at an average of 55.83.
Which IPL teams has KL Rahul played for?
He has played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (2013, 2016-2017), Sunrisers Hyderabad (2014-2015), Punjab Kings (2018-2021), Lucknow Super Giants (2022-2024) and Delhi Capitals (2025-present).
How much was KL Rahul sold for at the IPL 2025 mega auction?
Delhi Capitals bought him for INR 14 crore at the 2025 mega auction after Lucknow Super Giants released him.
Sources and Data Notes
Statistics and player information are checked against available reliable sources and may be updated as new IPL matches, transfers, or official announcements are confirmed. Sources used for this article: the official IPL website (iplt20.com), ESPNcricinfo, CricTracker, CricIndeed, CricketAddictor, Sportskeeda and The Sports Tak. IPL 2027 details will be added once the auction and season are confirmed.
Statistics updated through: 10 October 2026
