How KL Rahul Silenced Sanjiv Goenka in His Own Backyard

In the IPL 2024, the 57th match between the Lucknow Super Giants and the Sunrisers Hyderabad saw a change of fortune for KL Rahul, who was then the captain of the LSG side. That day turned out to be one of the darkest moments in the franchise’s history as SRH chased down a target of 166 in just 9.4 overs without losing a wicket. Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head made a mockery of the LSG bowling attack, handing them a humiliating 10-wicket defeat. The aftermath of that match went viral for all the wrong reasons as Sanjiv Goenka, the LSG owner, was seen engaging in a tense and animated conversation with Rahul on the field, sparking speculations of a rift and a potential exit.

That moment became the defining image of the downfall of KL Rahul’s captaincy era at Lucknow. As many fans had anticipated, Rahul did not continue with LSG. Ahead of IPL 2025, he was released and picked up by the Delhi Capitals for a whopping INR 14 crore. This move was seen not only as a fresh start for Rahul but also as an opportunity for redemption and perhaps, a personal reckoning with his former franchise. Fast forward to the 40th match of IPL 2025 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, the same venue where things had gone downhill as KL Rahul returned, but this time wearing DC blue.

With the spotlight firmly on him and the stands packed with expectant fans, Rahul delivered the ultimate statement. Chasing 160, he anchored the innings with a calm yet commanding unbeaten 57 off 42 deliveries, which included four boundaries and three towering sixes. Most notably, he finished the game in style, smashing a massive six over mid-wicket, almost looking straight towards the LSG dugout, where Sanjiv Goenka sat. The moment wasn’t just about the runs or the win as it was layered with emotion. Rahul, who had once been publicly scolded on the same ground, returned as the match-winner, playing a pivotal role in Delhi’s eight-wicket demolition of LSG.

KL Rahul Ignores Sanjiv Goenka and Walks Off in Style at Ekana Stadium

After ending the game against the Lucknow Super Giants, which was the former franchise of KL Rahul, the Delhi Capitals star walked off the field in style — but it wasn’t just his match-winning six that made headlines. What truly caught the internet’s attention was Rahul’s cold interaction with LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka. As Rahul guided DC to a convincing eight-wicket win over LSG at the Ekana Stadium with an unbeaten 57 off 42 balls, emotions were already running high.

But as the players walked off the field, Rahul briefly shook hands with Goenka, who seemed eager to have a word. Instead, Rahul kept walking, ignoring any further attempt at a conversation. This small yet powerful moment quickly went viral, with fans calling it a “cinematic” move and interpreting it as Rahul’s silent but strong statement. Moreover, for KL Rahul, this was a perfect moment as he showed what he is capable off and how his presence in the Delhi Capitals team has made the team better.

KL Rahul Becomes Fastest Batter to Reach 5000 IPL Runs

For the Delhi Capitals team, the inclusion of KL Rahul has been a magical move for the team as he is the one who has transformed the batting unit with his calmness, consistency, and class. The experienced right-hander showcased all of that in the recent IPL 2025 fixture against his former team, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), at the Ekana Stadium. Rahul not only played a match-winning innings of 57 not out off 42 balls but also etched his name in the history books by becoming the fastest batter to reach 5000 IPL runs.

Rahul achieved this historic milestone in just 130 innings, surpassing the previous record held by Australian opener David Warner, who had taken 135 innings to get to the landmark. This achievement underlines KL Rahul’s stature as one of the most consistent and impactful performers in IPL history.

Here’s a look at the top 5 fastest players to reach 5000 IPL runs:

1. KL Rahul – 130 innings.
2. David Warner – 135 innings.
3. Virat Kohli – 157 innings.
4. AB de Villiers – 161 innings.
5. Shikhar Dhawan – 168 innings.
   

Rahul’s milestone came during Delhi Capitals’ successful run chase of 160 runs. He reached 5000 runs with a calm single off a full toss from Prince Yadav, symbolizing his composed style of accumulating runs under pressure. His innings were laced with elegant boundaries and timely big hits, capped off by a towering six to finish the match in style.

Coming to the IPL 2025 season, KL Rahul has turned out to be the best batter of the team who has been in a phenomenal form so far with him scoring 323 runs in just 7 matches for the Delhi Capitals. With an outstanding average of 64.60 and a strike rate of 153.80, Rahul has emerged as the backbone of DC’s top order.

His highest score this season has been an unbeaten 93*, and he has already notched up three half-centuries, showing both consistency and class. What’s even more impressive is that he has remained not out in two of those innings, highlighting his ability to anchor chases and finish games. Across these seven innings, he has struck 25 boundaries and cleared the ropes 16 times, proving his aggressive yet composed batting approach.