Kannur Lokesh Rahul, popularly known as KL Rahul, is one of the prominent Indian cricketers, famous for his versatility as a right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper. He was born on April 18, 1992, in Bangalore, Karnataka. He hails from an academically oriented family; his father, K. N. Lokesh, is a professor and former director at the National Institute of Technology Karnataka, and his mother, Rajeshwari, is a professor at Mangalore University.
Rahul had his early schooling at NITK English Medium School and then St. Aloysius College, Mangalore. At the age of 10, he started training in cricket, and at the age of 18, he shifted to Bangalore for higher education at Jain University and continued playing cricket at the same time.
Rahul made his first-class debut for Karnataka in the season of 2010–11. His impressive performances helped him find a place in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2013. Later, he played for Sunrisers Hyderabad before returning to Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2016, where he scored 397 runs in 14 matches, marking a very significant phase of his IPL career. In the years that followed, he played for Kings XI Punjab and Lucknow Super Giants, with a string of consistent performances both as a batsman and wicket-keeper.
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Internationally, Rahul debuted for India in Test cricket on December 26, 2014, against Australia in Melbourne. He marked his arrival in the ODI arena with a century on debut against Zimbabwe on June 11, 2016, becoming the first Indian to do so. His adaptability across formats is evident from his record as the fastest batsman to score centuries in all three formats, achieving this milestone in just 20 innings. As of December 2024, Rahul has accumulated 3,168 runs in Test matches, 2,851 runs in ODIs, and 2,265 runs in T20 Internationals, reflecting his significant contribution to Indian cricket.
Off the cricket field, Rahul’s personal life was in the news after he married Bollywood actress Athiya Shetty on January 23, 2023, after a long-term relationship. The couple announced their first pregnancy on November 8, 2024, adding a new chapter to their lives.
KL Rahul’s journey from being a young cricket enthusiast in Mangalore to becoming a mainstay in the Indian national team speaks for his dedication, skill, and resilience. His ability to adapt to various formats and deliver under pressure has cemented his position as one of India’s premier cricketers in contemporary times.