WATCH: KL Rahul punishes Kagiso Rabada with two huge sixes in DC vs GT IPL 2025 game

Delhi Capital’ (DC) decision to send KL Rahul into bat as an opener paid rich dividends in the IPL 2025 game against Gujarat Titans (GT). The 33-year-old scored his fourth fifty of IPL 2025 season and also became the fastest Indian batter to reach 8000 runs in T20 cricket. Rahul reached the mark with a huge six over long-off region against Kagiso Rabada. 

𝗪𝗢𝗪 🤯

KL Rahul is striking them sweet and long 😍

Updates ▶ https://t.co/4flJtatmxc #TATAIPL | #DCvGT | @DelhiCapitals | @klrahul pic.twitter.com/BqYZmgBvJi

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 18, 2025

Kagiso Rabada playing his first game of IPL 2025 in over a month was coming in place of Gerald Coetzee. The 29-year-old was called into bowl the final over of the powerplay and conceded 17 runs. Rahul got a short ball from the South Africa pacer that he pulled over the fine-leg region for a six. 

Two balls later, Rahul played a stylish cut shot for a four to 29 and put himself just four runs away from the 8000-run mark. Rabada then served a length ball to Rahul and the batter stood tall to hit the ball over the long-on region for second six off the over. Rahul got to the mark in his 224th innings. The 33-year-old also went past Virat Kohli’s previous record who had achieved the mark in 243 innings. 

Delhi Capitals recover after slow start 

Shubman Gill’s decision to field first after winning the toss seemed to have paid off early. The first four overs saw the home team score only 19 runs for the loss of one wicket. Mohammed Siraj and Arshad Khan gave nothing away as Faf du Plessis and KL Rahul struggled to get going. 

First over from Siraj saw nine runs being scored with Rahul hitting two fours. The next three overs saw just 10 runs being scored as Plessis struggled to get his timing. Veteran South African batter tried to break the shackles against Arshad Khan but failed to time the ball. The 40-year-old was out for five caught by Mohammed Siraj in the second ball of the fourth over. 

Abhishek Porel joined KL Rahul and the pair then began to score runs at a quick pace. The pair added 90 for the second wicket in 52 balls as Porel and Rahul combined aggression with some smart cricket. Both batters ran well between the wickets and didn’t miss a chance to put the bad balls away. Sai Kishore ended the stand when he had Porel caught behind by Buttler for 30 off 19 balls with one boundary and three huge sixes in his knock.