KL Rahul’s consistent run-hitting innings are not only limited to international cricket matches but can also be seen in one of the popular franchises in world cricket, the Indian Premier League (IPL).
His successful journey, starting with Royal Challenger Bangalore (RCB) to currently playing with Delhi Capitals, is something many players look up to, as is his aggressive hitting, along with his confident on-field personality.
Here in this article, we’ll explore KL Rahul’s journey in the IPL, the teams he has been associated with so far, and some notable records.
KL Rahul’s IPL Debut and Early Days
KL Rahul’s journey to debuting in the IPL was not as easy as it seems since he had to prove to the world what he is capable of and what he can bring to the team. After making his debut in first-class cricket for Karnataka in the 2010-11 season, his rise in fame just climbed the upward trajectory from then on, catching the eyes of mentors and coaches across India.
As a result, Rahul went on to debut in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 2013, where he was picked for INR 10 lakhs. After this, Rahul’s career in IPL was going to be unstoppable because of the performance he displayed in the matches.
While he did not get to play many matches in his debut season, he was bought by the Sunrisers Hyderabad for INR 1 crore, where he played two seasons with the team.
| Year | Team | Salary (INR) |
| 2013 | RCB | 10 Lakhs |
| 2014 | SRH | 1 Crore |
| 2015 | SRH | 1 Crore |
| 2016 | RCB | 1 Crore |
| 2017 | RCB | 1 Crore |
| 2018 | KXIP | 11 Crores |
| 2019 | KXIP | 11 Crores |
| 2020 | KXIP | 11 Crores |
| 2021 | KXIP | 11 Crores |
| 2022 | LSG | 17 Crores |
| 2023 | LSG | 17 Crores |
| 2024 | LSG | 17 Crores |
| 2025 | DC | 14 Crores |
During his decade-long career in IPL, he played for several franchises, such as RCB, SRH, Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), and Delhi Capitals (DC). Among these teams, he was more into hype when he was playing for Preity Zinta’s KXIP.
When he was picked by SRH in 2014 at 1 crore, they retained him again in 2015, but it was the year 2016 when Rahul was released by SRH, providing an opportunity for RCB to purchase him at 1 crore.
The year 2018 was a game-changing season for Rahul as he was bought by KXIP for a whopping sum of 11 crores, marking his presence as one of the key players in the franchise league.
Until 2020, KL Rahul played for PBKS formerly known as KXIP for 11 crores, but he was again released and picked by LSG in 2022 for 17 crores, donning the captaincy role.
KL Rahul was paid INR 17 crores during the year 2025 by LSG, but things changed at the 2025 auction when the veteran player was bought by DC for 14 crores. In 2025, KL Rahul is playing for DC, serving a significant role in the team.
Batting Records & Statistics
Talking about the batting performances of KL Rahul, he has registered several records in his name while smashing hundreds of runs through different seasons from 2013 to 2025.
Before this season’s IPL, KL Rahul had scored 4683 runs at a strike rate of 134.61 and had an average of 45.47. During his 132 matches, he smashed 4 100s and 37 50s, while his highest score is an unbeaten 132 runs.
But as of 2025, his updated cricket stats are below, showing his progress.
| Matches | Runs | Avg | SR | 100s | 50s | HS |
| 143 | 5176 | 46.63 | 135.78 | 5 | 40 | 132* |
Ranging through different seasons, KL Rahul has scored several runs for the teams, and that too in crucial situations many times. During his debut season, he played 5 matches, scoring only 20 runs. Continue reading detail compilation of KL Rahul Stats.
However, the game was about to elevate in the next season as he scored 659 runs in 14 matches in 2018 while playing for KXIP.
Similarly, KL Rahul’s total score in 2022 was 616 when he was appointed as the captain of the newly formed franchise, LSG. However, the year 2023 was a bit disappointing for him as he played only 9 matches, scoring 274 runs in total.
| Year | Matches | Runs |
| 2013 | 5 | 20 |
| 2014 | 11 | 166 |
| 2015 | 9 | 142 |
| 2016 | 14 | 397 |
| 2018 | 14 | 659 |
| 2019 | 14 | 593 |
| 2020 | 14 | 670 |
| 2021 | 13 | 626 |
| 2022 | 15 | 616 |
| 2023 | 9 | 274 |
| 2024 | 14 | 520 |
KL Rahul’s IPL records
KL Rahul not only participated in the league but also displayed his exceptional batting skills, earning him deserved respect and records in IPL history.
He is one of the 7th batters in IPL history who has smashed 4-plus centuries and the 6th batter in IPL to score 41 50-plus as of 2025.
| Record | Detail |
| IPL Centuries | 4 (7th batter with 4+ centuries) |
| Third Fastest Fifty | 14 balls vs DC in 2018 (Mohali) |
| 50+ Scores (as of Mar 24, 2025) | 41 (6th most in IPL) |
| Highest Batting Average (50+ innings) | 45+ (only batter to achieve this) |
| 500+ Runs in Consecutive Seasons | 5 (2018–2022) |
| Highest Season Runs | 670 in 2020, 659 in 2018 |
Rahul also stands as the player with the third-fastest fifty scored in 14 balls against DC in 2018.
Similarly, during the 2020 and 2018 seasons, Rahul became the highest run scorer, with 670 and 659 runs in total.
