KL Rahul, India’s stylish wicketkeeper-batsman, turns heads with his calm demeanor and classy shots. Born in Bangalore and raised in Mangalore, he rose from local clubs to the world stage. From scoring centuries in all formats to holding the record for the fastest IPL fifty, Rahul has proven his talent time and again. He now leads Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025 and remains a key player for Team India. A mix of elegance and power, Rahul's journey is pure inspiration!
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Kail Rahul, born as Kanor Lokesh Rahul on April 18, 1992 in Bangalore, grew up in Mangalore.
00:11His father was a professor and former director at NITK, Surath Kahl, while his mother was a history professor at Mangalore University.
00:20A disciplined upbringing in an academic household gave him a strong foundation, but his passion was always cricket.
00:26He studied at NITK English Medium School and later joined St. Aloysius College for his pre-university.
00:35His cricketing dreams started young. By the age of 10, he was training seriously.
00:41At 18, he moved to Bangalore to study at Jane University, which played a crucial role in supporting his cricket career.
00:48He once said,
00:49I always asked the sports director how many classes I needed to attend, and he'd just tell me to get back on the field.
00:56That kind of support helped me focus on my game.
01:05Kail Rahul recently entered a new chapter in life by marrying actress Athaya Shetty, daughter of Bollywood actor Sunil Shetty.
01:13Their wedding was a private affair held at the Shetty family's Kandala Farmhouse, attended by close friends and family.
01:22In 2025, the couple welcomed their baby daughter, making headlines across entertainment and sports media alike.
01:29Rahul first grabbed attention when he played in the 2010 Under-19 World Cup.
01:42He made his first-class debut for Karnataka in the 2010-11 season, but had a breakthrough in 2013-14, scoring 1,033 runs and leading his team to a Ranji Trophy title.
01:58His consistency earned him a place in the Indian Test Squad.
02:03Test debut, December 26, 2014, against Australia in Melbourne.
02:09ODI debut, June 11, 2016, vs. Zimbabwe.
02:15Scored a century, becoming the first Indian to do so on ODI debut.
02:20T20, I debut, 2016, vs. Zimbabwe.
02:24Later that year, he smashed an unbeaten 110 off 51 balls against West Indies, becoming the first player to score a T20 international century, batting at number four.
02:38He's one of the few Indians to score centuries in all three formats, and once held the record for the fastest to do so across formats.
02:45K.L. Rahul's IPL journey began with Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2013.
02:57He then played for Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2014 and returned to RCB in 2016.
03:04But his real rise in the IPL came with Punjab Kings, where he not only scored the fastest IPL 50 in just 14 balls, 2018, but also won the Orange Cap in 2020 for 670 runs.
03:20He captained Punjab Kings in 2020 and 2021 before moving to Lucknow Supergiants in 2022.
03:30Bought for 17 crore Indian rupees, he became the joint highest paid player in IPL history, alongside Virat Kohli.
03:38In 2025, Rahul made another big move, joining Delhi Capitals for 14 crore Indian rupees.
03:47Though he missed the early matches due to personal reasons, he returned with a bang, scoring a match-winning 93 not out against RCB.
03:56He's expected to play a mentor role, guiding younger players like Aksar Patel.
04:01Post his World Cup 2023 heroics, Rahul jumped 15 places in the ICC ODI rankings, breaking into the top 20.
04:15He continued to deliver in early 2025, helping India lift the Champions Trophy and guiding Delhi Capitals to multiple wins with his sharp tactics and steady batting.
04:31With his calm temperament, sharp technique and leadership qualities, Kael Rahul continues to be a pillar for Indian cricket.
04:41Whether it's anchoring innings in tests or finishing games in the IPL, his adaptability across formats makes him a priceless asset.
04:50As IPL 2025 progresses and future tournaments loom large, one thing is clear.
04:56Kael Rahul isn't just here to play, he's here to leave a legacy.