'The only time I saw him a little angry' - Wasim Jaffer recalls KL Rahul's frustration with PBKS performances

KL Rahul captained Punjab Kings across two seasons from 2018 to 2021, leading the franchise through a challenging period marked by narrow defeats and missed playoff opportunities. During his tenure, the team finished in sixth position in both campaigns, falling short of the playoffs despite competitive performances. Rahul himself emerged as one of the standout performers during this period, particularly in 2020 when he won the Orange Cap with 670 runs across 14 innings at an average of 55.83 and a strike rate of 129.34, including one century and five fifties.

Wasim Jaffer, who served as head coach at Punjab Kings from 2019 to 2021, recently reflected on Rahul's temperament during those years. Jaffer described Rahul as naturally composed and reserved, someone who keeps to himself and socialises within a close circle of friends. According to Jaffer, it was extremely rare to witness Rahul lose his composure or display visible anger either on or off the field.

"KL is naturally very composed, a bit reserved, and keeps to himself. You would not see him out and about much, as he mostly socialises within his close circle of friends. It is very rare to see him lose his cool or get visibly angry on or off the field," Jaffer said on The Great Indian Cricket Show.

"But back when I was the batting coach at Punjab, every single game felt like a heartbreak. We were losing matches from winning positions, and almost every game was dragging down to the final over. After one of those close losses, a game we easily should have won, I saw him get genuinely angry for the first time. He didn't say anything out of line, but you could see how deeply frustrated he was with how badly we had played. That was the only time I saw KL Rahul a little angry," he added.

Close losses that defined PBKS captaincy

The frustration stemmed from a pattern of close defeats that cost Punjab Kings playoff spots. In 2020, the team suffered losses in a Super Over against Delhi Capitals and fell short by two runs against Kolkata Knight Riders while chasing 165. That season, Punjab finished with six wins and eight losses, accumulating 12 points, which left them outside the playoff positions. In 2021, the team again endured narrow defeats, including losses by two runs to Rajasthan Royals and by six runs to Royal Challengers Bangalore, finishing with 12 points and missing out on the playoffs once more.

Rahul's individual brilliance and post-PBKS career

Rahul's individual performances remained strong throughout his captaincy despite the team's collective struggles. In 2021, he scored 626 runs across 13 innings with six fifties, continuing to be a consistent run-getter for the franchise. Across his entire stint with Punjab Kings, Rahul accumulated 2,548 runs in 55 matches at an average of 56.62 and a strike rate of approximately 140, with two centuries and 23 fifties, establishing himself as the franchise's leading run-getter in IPL history.

Following his departure from Punjab Kings, Rahul moved to Lucknow Super Giants from 2022 to 2024, where he led the team to the playoffs in two seasons and scored 1,410 runs across 38 innings. He subsequently joined Delhi Capitals in 2025 and has continued to perform at a high level, scoring 1,132 runs in 27 matches at an average of 49.21 with a strike rate exceeding 160, including two centuries and eight fifties. In the 2026 season, Rahul scored 593 runs in 14 innings at an average of 45.61 with a strike rate of 174.41, featuring an unbeaten 152 which marked the first Indian 150-plus score in IPL history.