‘Simran nahi Rahul jee raha hai apni zindagi’: Twitterati erupt as swashbuckling PBKS skipper destroys CSK

KL Rahul of old was finally on the show today as the Punjab Kings skipper destroyed the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their final game of the league stage on Thursday. That sublime touch, the timing, better positions and outstanding shot-making of Rahul were on full display as he played with a strike rate of 233 helping his side just stay in the contention.

The Kings restricted the Super Kings to a paltry total of 134 in Dubai’s heat but they had to chase down the score inside 14 overs to have their NRR jump over that of Mumbai Indians. KL Rahul, who generally plays the anchor and stays at the crease for the majority of the innings was asked to change gears and go after the bowling from the outset and boy he replied.

Rahul, who amassed 659 runs in the 2018 edition at the strike rate of 158 has brought down his strike rate considerably over the last three years and curbed his natural game for the team and the team needed home to play this role again and he responded with it in some style.

You know he is in the flow when the pull shot is on display. On Thursday, not just the pull-shot, every shot from KL Rahul’s bat was blowing like makkhan. 

After a one off Deepak Chahar, KL Rahul made Josh Hazlewood pay as he hit a couple of boundaries through the line and one over mid-on and he just kept going. A pickup shot off Shardul Thakur, some well-placed shots later of Dwayne Bravo as he was looking like million dollars today. It almost felt like Rahul was batting on a different surface while CSK batted on a different one.

Rahul was inching closer to his third century in the IPL but fell shot just two runs of it, but nonetheless, PBKS chased down the score in 13 overs as their NRR went to +0.00, above Mumbai Indians.

Most of the fans heaped praise on Rahul for playing one of the best knocks of the UAE leg of IPL 2021, while many wondered why he plays like he does during the rest of the league stage at 120-125 when he can play like that completely blowing away the opposition single-handedly. Here are some of the reactions:

Absolutely brilliant hitting from KL Rahul, top class . Was a delight to watch. When someone has this kind of ability and can take away the match from any opposition ,why would one play a different role, or be assigned a role anything apart from playing in this style. pic.twitter.com/4fDtMBffN5

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 7, 2021

.@klrahul11 is putting up some show in this run chase. Where every other batsman struggled to play shots, they’re spilling out from his bat like he’s firing an ack-ack gun

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) October 7, 2021

This is the best version of KL Rahul we’ve seen in a long time. Continue this man till T20 World Cup @klrahul11

— R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) October 7, 2021

KL Rahul is putting on a show here. When he bats like this, you drop what you are doing and watch.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 7, 2021

We need this version of KL Rahul in wt20 #IPL2021 https://t.co/4S0FprqM8L

— Kri (@KrishK74) October 7, 2021

Kl-assy show . #CSKvPBKS #KLRahul #lordshardul pic.twitter.com/MRZsVKBdNV

— viratian.boi18 (@Viratko66401481) October 7, 2021

VINTAGE KLRAHUL IS BACK#KLRahul @klrahul11 #PBKS

— KLRAHUL TRENDS(@KLRahulTrends_) October 7, 2021

KL Rahul in PBKS https://t.co/EgRnaMSPm9 pic.twitter.com/QQatxwKzOh

— R. (@utd_jumbozzz) October 7, 2021

This is kind of the perfect example of what we have been saying the last two years.

KL Rahul can clearly dominate any attack and single handidly win almost any game, so why is he playing in a way that actually contributes to team totals which make it more likely PBKS will lose?

— Jack Hope (@thecricketpod) (@JackHope0) October 7, 2021

Playing over the covers  Wrist flick for six  Lap Shot 

Itne din kyu khela nahi pic.twitter.com/njufX4zpo3

— Prithvi (@Puneite_) October 7, 2021

This swashbuckling version of KL >>>>#CSKvsPBKS #IPL2021

— Shilpak. (@ugach_kahitarii) October 7, 2021