Video of KL Rahul’s 50 in 14 balls : Fastest Fifty in IPL : PBKS vs DC

Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals, 08 April, 04:00 PM IST

Match Result : PBKS won by 6 wickets

Player of the Match : KL Rahul

Match Report : KL Rahul blasted the IPL’s fastest half-century to give Punjab Kings a rousing start to their IPL campaign. Rahul razed the Delhi attack in a brutal performance, getting to the landmark inside three overs and off just 14 balls.

Interestingly, though, PBKS ended up huffing and puffing to their target of 167. After Rahul’s dismissal, Kings XI only managed 103 runs in 84 balls. But such had been the damage done by Rahul that they still ended up winning with seven balls to spare. Amid the cheers for Rahul’s fifty, may it not be forgotten that Mujeeb Zadran had a phenomenal debut to pick three wickets and restrict them.

All that after Gautam Gambhir, the Delhi captain, celebrated his return to his hometown franchise with a fighting half-century. But PBKS’s spin duo of R Ashwin and the 17-year old debutant Mujeeb Ur Rahman led a strong bowling performance to restrict Delhi to a total that was just about par.

Gautam Gambhir | Losing captain : “I thought that we got a decent total on the board but in the first 6 overs (of the chase), they put it beyond us. Credit to our bowlers, they fought back well to drag it into the 19th over. (Whether DD were short of runs)

No, I thought that 160-165 was a good total because the old ball wasn’t easy to get away. Hence, the first 6 overs were key. (On DD’s fine support staff) Yes, we have a good start with Ricky and many others in the backroom staff. Hopefully we can get things right.”

Ashwin: “There is lesser pressure now. I had a bit of nerves going in for the toss. Feeling a bit relieved now. I had some elaborate plans going in the practice games. KL Rahul and the other guys helped me execute them. It doesn’t matter if it’s a left-arm spinner to a left-hander or a right-arm spinner for a right hander.

I think it’s just the perception that one has and I would like to think my best bowlers are the best bowlers and if they get hit, so be it, we will try and chase it down. That’s the thought process. I wanted a lot of guys to have a good hit and we batted well today.”

Karun Nair: “The start Rahul got blew them away. The crowd turnout to set up the opening game was amazing. Hope to see more of this.”

KL Rahul (Man of the Match): “I just went in there and I just took off. I didn’t plan this innings. I was just watching the ball and getting into good positions. It’s an opener’s responsibility to get the team off to a good start. Really happy that it came off today.

I was striking the ball really well, but it’s important to forget this innings and move on to the coming games. I don’t want to be overconfident. I have been branded as a Test cricketer for 4-5 years, so it’s good for me to be up there creating history and breaking the record (for the fastest IPL fifty).”

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