IPL 2018: KL Rahul hits fastest fifty in record-setting day as Kings XI Punjab beat Delhi Daredevils

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • KL Rahul hit the fastest fifty in IPL history on Sunday. Image: BCCI

    Kings XI Punjab opened their IPL 2018 campaign in the perfect manner under new skipper Ravichandran Ashwin as they beat Delhi Daredevils by six wickets at Mohali on Sunday.

    Winning the toss and electing to bat first, the Daredevils were restricted to 166-7 after some fine bowling by the home side before the hosts chased down the total with seven deliveries to spare.

    Here, we look at the key talking points from an entertaining clash at Mohali.

    MUJEEB UR RAHMAN CREATES HISTORY

    When Afghanistan’s Mujeeb ur Rahman took the field for Kings XI Punjab on Sunday, IPL history was created. At 17 years and 11 days, the spinner became the youngest ever to play in the competition, beating the previous record held by Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Sarfraz Khan at 17 years and 177 days.

    As if becoming the youngest IPL debutant wasn’t enough, Mujeeb proved why he is so highly rated by snaring up the wicket of the dangerous Colin Munro with his third delivery.

    GAMBHIR MATCHES WARNER’S RECORD

    Back at the franchise of his hometown, Gautam Gambhir started his new innings in the perfect fashion, slamming his 36th IPL half century to lead the way with the bat for Delhi Daredevils.

    Despite the loss of early wickets, the left-handed looked in control as he found boundaries at regular intervals while milking the singles. He notched up his fifty in 36 balls, equalling David Warner’s IPL record of 36 half-centuries.

    KL RAHUL SLAMS FASTEST IPL 50

    KL Rahul started the chase for Kings XI Punjab like a man possessed. After facing three quiet deliveries from fast bowler Trent Boult , Rahul burst into life with a top-edged six. Slamming two sixes and three boundaries in the first two overs of the innings, the Kings XI Punjab batsman then gave Amit Mishra a hiding to remember.

    Smashing the leg-spinner for two huge sixes and three boundaries off the first five deliveries, Rahul brought up the fastest  IPL fifty taking just 14 balls to reach to the mark. His innings was brought to an end in the fifth over by Boult but by that time the right-hander has caused enough damage to the Daredevils.

    YUVRAJ’S STRUGGLES

    That Yuvraj Singh’s powers are on the decline is no secret given how much of an afterthought he was during the IPL auction. On Sunday, Yuvraj had the perfect platform after Rahul’s explosive fifty had brought down the equation to almost run-a-ball.

    Yuvraj started excellently, moving on to 10 off as many balls with the help of two hits to the boundary. Then, he went back into his shell and resembled the uncertain batsman India has become accustomed to for a couple of seasons.

    After scoring two runs off the next nine deliveries, Yuvraj holed out to deep mid-wicket while trying to take on Rahul Tewatia in an attempt to relieve the pressure. The left-hander’s 12 runs came off 22 deliveries in Kings XI’s otherwise impressive batting showing.

    Recommended