Punjab Kings captain KL Rahul started the tournament with a sparkling half-century but got slow as the tournament progressed. However, he shrugged the failures of the previous games behind and sparkled again while facing his former franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore in Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.
RCB skipper Virat Kohli opted to bowl first after winning the toss. KL Rahul and Chris Gayle batted beautifully in the first half of the innings. Gayle got out after scoring 46 runs but Rahul remained to be the unmoved rock. In the process, he notched up his 25th IPL half-century.
Also Read: Chris Gayle cracked five sixes in Kyle Jamieson’s over
Rahul raised the bat to acknowledge the applause given by his teammates. Meanwhile, the PKBS team owner and the other support staff were quick to do Rahul’s iconic ‘Shut the Noise’ celebration’. Everybody sitting in the box stood up on their feet and put fingers into their ears. That was a unique style adopted by the support staff.
Fans were in full praise for KLR after this splendid knock. Here are some of those tweets;
— Aditya Das (@lodulalit001) April 30, 2021
#KLRahul was 50 off 35!
Finished 91 off 57 balls!
7X4️⃣
5X6️⃣
Scintillating inning 👏👏👏👏👏👏
Come on #PBKS now defend the total!#RCBvsPBKS #RCBvPBKS #PBKSvRCB #PBKSvsRCB #IPL #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/qF7PSY9Xpq— BlueCap 🇮🇳 (@IndianzCricket) April 30, 2021
KL Rahul – 50(35)
Captains Knock 🔥🥳#IPL2021 #RCBvsPBKS #klrahul@PunjabKings pic.twitter.com/2IVKQb0X3a
— Harsh (@Harsh_k_27) April 30, 2021
@klrahul11 has surpassed the jinx that just because his name is Rahul, he cannot play well in Narendra Modi Stadium.
Today it’s a different story. Tables have turned.
That’s a amazing 50 #KL.
Keep going. #KL_Class #KLRahul #Warrior #PBKSvRCB #PBKS #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/upHi37p1HB— Joanny Bert Gomez (Jo) (@joannybert) April 30, 2021
50 for KL Rahul. "Form is temporary but class is permanent" – and KL defines this line.
.
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.#RCB#PBKS#PBKSvRCB#IPL2021#ViratKohli #klrahul #viratkohlivsklrahul pic.twitter.com/gBnayzlg7g— League11 – Home of All Fantasy Sports (@league11_in) April 30, 2021
5⃣0⃣for #KLRahul
His 25th half-century in #IPL
50 off 35
3⃣FOURS 4⃣SIXES 😎🔥🏏#IPL2021 #PBKSvRCB #PBKSvsRCB #RCB #PBKS #ViratKohli #KLRahul #SaddaPunjab #WeAreChallengers #PlayBold— OneCricket (@OneCricketApp) April 30, 2021
Also Read: KL Rahul applauds players after a convincing win over MI
Rahul played an unbeaten knock of 91 in just 57 balls, where he hit seven fours and five towering sixes. He took on RCB bowlers in the death overs and propelled PKBS total to 179/5 in 20 overs. He found a good ally in Harpreet Brar, who smashed 25 runs in 17 balls while sharing a crucial 61-run stand with his skipper.