Kunal Rathore IPL Stats, Team, Price, Salary, Career Stats & Records
Kunal Singh Rathore is a young wicketkeeper-batter from Kota, Rajasthan, who represents Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. Born on October 9, 2002, the left-handed batter became the first cricketer from Kota to earn an IPL contract, and he made his league debut in 2025.
Rathore’s journey is one of patience and persistence. After two seasons on the bench, he finally got his chance in May 2025, and the Royals have continued to back his potential behind the stumps.
Kunal Rathore IPL Career Overview
Rajasthan Royals signed Rathore in the 2023 auction for INR 20 lakh after his impressive performances in domestic T20 cricket. He spent the entire 2023 season on the bench without playing a match, learning from senior players and training with the squad.
He was retained for the 2024 season at the same price but again did not get a game. After the 2024 season, the franchise released him, only to buy him back in the 2025 mega auction for INR 30 lakh, showing their continued faith in his development.
The IPL Debut
Rathore made his long-awaited IPL debut on May 4, 2025, against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. He replaced veteran batter Nitish Rana in the Rajasthan playing XI for that match.
It was a difficult debut. After injuring his hand in the first half of the game, he was dismissed for a five-ball duck, caught by Andre Russell off the bowling of Moeen Ali while trying to go down the ground.
Kunal Rathore IPL Career Summary
| Category | Record |
|---|---|
| — | — |
| Matches | 1 |
| Runs | 0 |
| Highest Score | 0 |
| Batting Average | 0.00 |
| Strike Rate | 0.00 |
| Fifties | 0 |
| Hundreds | 0 |
| Fours | 0 |
| Sixes | 0 |
| IPL Debut | May 4, 2025 vs Kolkata Knight Riders |
Season-by-Season IPL Batting Stats
| Season | Team | Matches | Runs | HS | Average | Strike Rate | 50s | 100s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025 | Rajasthan Royals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | Rajasthan Royals | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2023 | Rajasthan Royals | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
The Road to the IPL
Rathore started playing cricket at the age of eight in Kota, accompanying his elder brother to a local academy. He missed selection for Rajasthan’s Under-14 side but made the Under-19 team in 2019, which proved to be the turning point in his career.
He made his professional debut for Rajasthan in all three formats during the 2022 season. In the 2022-23 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he scored 147 runs in seven matches at an average of 36.75 and a strike rate of 128.94, which earned him his first IPL contract.
Domestic Career Highlights
Rathore’s domestic record is far stronger than his brief IPL numbers suggest. In the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy, he scored 245 runs in six matches at an average of 40.83, including a brilliant 156 off 138 balls against Manipur, and made 19 dismissals behind the stumps.
In the same season’s Vijay Hazare Trophy, he contributed 250 runs and effected 24 dismissals, playing a crucial role in Rajasthan’s run to the final. His T20 record stands at 254 runs from 12 matches at an average of 36.28 and a strike rate of 138.04.
Batting Style and Wicketkeeping
Rathore is a left-handed batter known for his power-hitting ability in the middle order, combined with reliable wicketkeeping. He cites Brad Haddin and Quinton de Kock as his key influences as a wicketkeeper-batter.
At Rajasthan Royals, he has trained alongside established keepers and learned the demands of finishing games in the IPL. His domestic strike rate of over 138 in T20 cricket shows he has the attacking game the modern league demands.
Learning Behind the Stumps
For two full IPL seasons, Rathore watched and learned without playing a single game. That experience, while frustrating, gave him exposure to international-standard preparation, elite bowling attacks in the nets, and the tactical side of franchise cricket.
When he finally debuted in 2025, he did so as a more complete cricketer than the raw youngster signed in 2023. The Royals’ decision to re-sign him for INR 30 lakh after releasing him shows they believe his time is coming.
The First Cricketer from Kota
When Rajasthan Royals signed Rathore in the 2023 auction, he became the first cricketer from Kota to secure an IPL contract. It was a landmark moment for cricket in the city, which is better known for its coaching institutes than its cricketers.
His success has inspired a generation of young cricketers in Kota. In interviews, he has spoken about how he started playing at eight, failed to make the Under-14 state side, but kept working until he broke into the Under-19 team in 2019. That story of persistence resonates with every young player fighting for recognition.
Future Prospects
Rathore remains one of Rajasthan Royals’ backup wicketkeeping options behind established stars, learning from franchise captain and senior keeper Sanju Samson. At just 23 years of age, time is firmly on his side, and the franchise has shown it values his development by keeping him in the setup for four consecutive seasons.
His domestic numbers, particularly his strike rate of 138.04 in T20 cricket and his 156 off 138 balls in the Ranji Trophy, suggest a player ready to make a bigger impact when the next opportunity comes. For now, he continues to train, wait, and learn.
IPL Auction Price History
| Year | Price | Team |
|---|---|---|
| — | — | — |
| 2023 | INR 20 lakh | Rajasthan Royals |
| 2024 | INR 20 lakh (retained) | Rajasthan Royals |
| 2025 | INR 30 lakh | Rajasthan Royals |
| 2026 | INR 30 lakh (retained) | Rajasthan Royals |
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Kunal Rathore make his IPL debut?
Kunal Rathore made his IPL debut on May 4, 2025, for Rajasthan Royals against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
How many IPL matches has Kunal Rathore played?
He has played one IPL match, scoring 0 runs on debut after being dismissed for a five-ball duck.
Which IPL team does Kunal Rathore play for?
He plays for Rajasthan Royals, who first signed him in the 2023 auction and re-signed him in 2025.
What was Kunal Rathore’s IPL auction price?
Rajasthan Royals bought him for INR 30 lakh in the 2025 mega auction, after signing him for INR 20 lakh in 2023.
What is Kunal Rathore’s role in cricket?
He is a wicketkeeper-batter who bats left-handed and is known for power-hitting in domestic T20 cricket.
Where is Kunal Rathore from?
He is from Kota, Rajasthan, and became the first cricketer from Kota to secure an IPL contract.
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