KL Rahul

Kannur Lokesh Rahul, popularly known as KL Rahul, is a prominent figure in Indian cricket, who became the first Indian cricketer to score a century on his One-Day International (ODI) debut, achieving this feat against Zimbabwe in 2016 with a breathtaking innings that included the only six of the match. His breakthrough came during the 2013-14 domestic season, where he played a pivotal role in Karnataka's Ranji Trophy victory, amassing 1,033 runs including three centuries and three nineties.

He is renowned for his elegant batting style and versatility across all formats of the game. Rahul made his mark early in his career, representing India at the 2010 Under-19 World Cup and subsequently debuting in first-class cricket the same year. 

Rahul's skills with the bat and ability to adapt quickly catapulted him into the limelight. He made his international debut in 2014 against Australia in a Test match and soon after displayed his talent in limited-overs cricket. His ability to score quickly and effectively across formats was further higlighted by his record-breaking achievement as the fastest batsman to score an international century in all three formats, achieving this milestone in just twenty innings.

In addition to his achievements in international cricket, Rahul has been a consistent performer in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He began his IPL career with Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2013 and has since played for teams like Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), where he has left a lasting impact with his explosive batting and leadership skills. In 2018, he set a new record for the fastest fifty in IPL history.

Rahul's journey is marked not only by his on-field achievements but also by his growing responsibilities within the Indian cricket setup. He has served as an occasional captain for both the national team and IPL franchises. He was also appointed as the Vice-Captain of the Indian T20I and ODI teams.