A technically correct middle-order batter, Rahul Tripathi came to the game in the footsteps of his father, an army man who in his time turned out for Uttar Pradesh in junior cricket and also played at university level.

After his father was transferred to Pune in the course of his service, Tripathi cut his teeth at Deccan Gymkhana, one of the oldest clubs in the city, and got his start in domestic cricket with Maharashtra in 2012. In the two seasons starting 2014-15, he made just north of 1000 runs for them at 40 from 17 games. A few seasons on, he was the side's top scorer in the Ranji Trophy in 2018-19, with 504 runs.

Tripathi's IPL career began with Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017, when he came into the tournament fresh off smashing 157 runs in three innings in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and produced seven scores of over 30 in eight innings on the trot. After a capable if not spectacular season at Rajasthan Royals and two more of the same with Kolkata Knight Riders, he took it up a gear for Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2022, with six scores of 30-plus.