By hitting an unbeaten 152 off 67 balls, laced with 16 fours and nine sixes at a strike rate of 226, Rahul now holds the record for the highest individual score by an Indian batter and the third highest overall in IPL history after Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum. Rahul also went past Tilak Varma to now hold the record for the highest individual score by an Indian batter in men\u2019s T20s.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I'm obviously happy. I've taken a beating due to the heat, just need to hydrate and recover. So it's mixed emotions at the moment. I hope I don't cramp later on. I mean only towards the end was I premeditating. Early on, I think for the first 70-80 runs, I wasn't really premeditating.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI was just in a mindset to hit boundaries and put pressure on the bowlers. My strength is always to play proper cricket shots and I was trying to back that and try and believe that that's good enough to get my team past 250 and I continued to do that.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cOnly at the back end was I premeditating and when the field is set, when the bowlers go to the wide off-field or a spinner field, you know kind of what to expect,\" said a tired Rahul in a mid-innings chat with the broadcasters.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Rahul is also the first player in IPL\u2019s history to score multiple centuries for three different franchises \u2013 DC, PBKS and Lucknow Super Giants. Rahul and Rana\u2019s spectacular 220-run stand is also a record for the second-highest partnership in IPL history.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"Phenomenal knock from Nitish. The way he came in and you know, I think when you can hit proper cricket shots and get boundaries in the first six overs and continue to do that, I think the bowling team feels a lot more pressure when you're when you're trying to hit big sixes or trying to slog, then the opposition already feels like they're in with a chance.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Rahul is also the first player in IPL\u2019s history to score multiple centuries for three different franchises \u2013 DC, PBKS and Lucknow Super Giants. Rahul and Rana\u2019s spectacular 220-run stand is also a record for the second-highest partnership in IPL history.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI think he did that beautifully and I think right hand, left hand combination worked as well. The wicket was on the on the slower side, but I think both of us were seeing the ball really well, so we just continued batting and continued putting pressure on the bowlers,\" added Rahul.<\/p>\r\n\r\n