Xtra Time Web Desk: It was a fan boy moment for Kolkata Knight Rider’s batsman Rahul Tripathi on Wednesday night as the 29 year old cricketer received a huge compliment from his favourite star Shah Rukh Khan after his match winning knock (81 runs from 51 balls) against Chennai Super Kings. Tripathi scored 81 runs from 51 balls which included 3 sixes and 8 boundaries, opening the batting for KKR with Shubman Gill. The knock from Tripathy eventually proved to be the deciding factor as Dinesh Karthik and his team emerged victorious by 10 runs.
Hailing from Maharashtra, Rahul Tripathy was born in a family of an army man. Tripathi’s love for cricket at an early age started watching his dad. Tripathi senior was a decent cricketer and also turned up for Uttar Pradesh at the junior level and University. When the army transferred him to Pune, he promptly ensured that his son got formal cricket training. Rahul was soon admitted at the Deccan Gymkhana, one of the oldest clubs in Pune.
Tripathi’s transition to first-class cricket in 2012 wasn’t smooth, though, and he remained a journeyman for Maharashtra in the Ranji Trophy. However, despite a poor run in the Ranji Trophy where he made 185 runs in 11 innings, 2016-17 turned out to be a breakthrough season in his career. Despite not playing for Maharshtra in the Syed Mustaq Ali Trophy, he landed a contract with Rising Pune Supergiants who bought him for 10 lakhs.
A month later, Tripathi went on to validate his inclusion by smashing 157 runs in three innings in the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy, including a 74-ball 95 against Bengal in the quarter-finals. The innings (93 off 52) he played against Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2017 is still talked about.
After spending a season with RPS in IPL 2017, Tripathi was brought by Rajasthan Royals where he did not have had the best of seasons in 2018 & 2019, scoring 226 and 141 runs from 12 and 8 matches respectively. With the Knight Riders management opting to pick him at the auction for a sum of 60 lakhs, Tripathi was looking for an opportunity to prove a point. He did not get a chance in the first three matches of IPL 2020. But when the opportunity did arrive, Rahul Tripathi grabbed it with both hands scoring a quick-fire 36 runs off 16 balls against Delhi Capitals but ended up in a losing cause. A natural opener, KKR think tank decided to send him at the top with Shubman Gill and this time he ensured KKR crossed the line, scoring 81 runs off 51 balls. With confidence behind him, Rahul Tripathi will look to replicate the good form with the bat in the season ahead.