Rahul, who tops the run-scorer standings, was brutal in his approach, scoring his runs off just 40 balls which included five sixes.
The target of 172 on a flat deck was never going to be enough against the calibre batting lineup KXIP boast and it proved to be well below par.
Rahul was supported by West Indian Chris Gayle, who looked like he’d been batting since 2019. Gayle’s 53 came off just 45 deliveries and featured five sixes.
RCB will rue their inability to put together similar meaningful partnerships.
Aaron Finch and Devdutt Padikkal got RCB off to a solid start, sharing a 38-run opening-wicket stand. But things ramped up when Virat Kohli came to the crease.
The India captain looked hungry from the start, playing freely to all parts of the ground.
But he lost partners at crucial stages, Finch falling for 20 as they were changing gears. Washington Sunday (13) and Shivam Dube (23) fell shortly thereafter, but the promise of a challenging score loomed as AB de Villiers joined Kohli with the score at 134-5.
However, De Villiers, fresh off an excellent performance in his last match, chipped one straight to Deepak Hooda at extra cover for just two.
Chris Morris put on a long-hitting masterclass, smashing 25* off just eight deliveries to get RCB to a sub-par target on a deck that rewarded strokemakers.
KIXP have been inconsistent on the batting front, but Rahul and his opening partner, Manyank Agarwal, got them off to a flyer, the pair adding 78 for the first wicket.
Agarwal was bowled for 39 off 23 deliveries off the last ball of the seventh over, bringing Gayle to the crease. There was a period of calm before the pair cut loose, Rahul smashing consecutive sixes, while Gayle pummeled back to back fours to take KXIP to 113-1 at the end of the 12th over.
But they stuttered from that position and, needing just two to win off the last over, lost Gayle to a run-out on the penultimate delivery.
Nicholas Pooran smashed the last ball for six, though, sealing a well deserved win for KXIP.
