NEW DELHI: It has been a rollercoaster experience for KL Rahul in ODIs over the previous one and a half years. He has been India’s mainstay within the middle-order and with the gloves behind the wicket.
Kl Rahul delivered a stellar efficiency on the 2023 ODI World Cup, scoring 452 runs in 11 matches at a powerful common of 75.33. Within the Champions Trophy, he once more confirmed his class. His tally of 136 runs within the match may not win him many awards, however his significance to India within the center order was immense. Within the semifinal in opposition to Australia, he completed unbeaten on 42 after which steered India to their back-to-back ICC titles, ending unbeaten on 34 off 33 balls in opposition to New Zealand within the remaining.
The correct-hander was not simply excellent with the bat but in addition proved invaluable behind the stumps — guiding bowlers, helping Rohit Sharma with DRS calls, and sustaining composure beneath strain.
The feelings have been uncooked and visual when KL Rahul lastly lifted the Champions Trophy — his maiden ICC title. He knew precisely how a lot it meant to him.
Nevertheless, regardless of his efforts, he was missed for the ICC T20 World Cup within the USA and West Indies — a match India went on to win.
Who’s that IPL participant?
As soon as an all-format mainstay, KL Rahul is as soon as once more digging deep to pressure his approach again into India’s T20I setup. In truth, it appears he’s already chasing one other piece of ICC silverware — the 2026 T20 World Cup. The mega occasion is scheduled to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka between February and March 2026.
Will he make it again into India’s T20I squad? his present type, the reply appears more and more optimistic.
KL Rahul is in ominous contact — enjoying lofted drives, straight photographs, pulls, and flicks — and is as sharp as ever behind the stumps. With 364 runs in 8 matches, Rahul is at the moment the best run-getter for his group, Delhi Capitals, in IPL 2025.
Delhi Capitals mentor and former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen declared KL Rahul as his “first-choice to bat at No. 4 for India.”
“I again KL at No. 4 for India in T20 cricket,” Pietersen advised reporters after the Delhi Capitals’ loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Delhi.
“You have received Rohit and Yashasvi — you have received Surya, who bats on the prime, you have received all of those guys. However the way in which KL Rahul is enjoying cricket now, he could be my first option to bat at 4 and hold wicket for India,” Pietersen stated.
“KL has been enjoying in a really optimistic method since mid to late final 12 months. We noticed how he completed off a few video games for India and virtually sealed the deal for you guys within the Champions Trophy in Dubai. I’ve had a variety of extremely good conversations with him about batting — a variety of deep and significant conversations — as a result of once you develop up as a teen like he did, you are taught defence, elbow up, enjoying within the V.
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Ought to KL Rahul be India’s first-choice wicketkeeper for the T20 format?
“Then, hastily, in your 30s, you have to change and turn into a special form of participant for a format that is evolving on a regular basis. It is very, very tough. The best way he has accepted that he wanted to alter, and the way in which he has modified, is nice credit score to the individual he’s.
“He’s so optimistic — the way in which he practices, the way in which he trains, the way in which he thinks concerning the sport, and likewise the way in which he talks concerning the sport,” Pietersen stated.
KL Rahul (41 off 39 balls) top-scored for Delhi Capitals, serving to his aspect publish a aggressive whole of 162/8 in 20 overs.
In response, Krunal Pandya and Virat Kohli struck half-centuries to information Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a six-wicket win over Delhi Capitals.
The duo stitched collectively a 119-run partnership off 84 balls as RCB chased down the 163-run goal in 18.3 overs, extending their unbeaten run away from residence.
With the win, RCB notched up their seventh victory in 10 video games, whereas Delhi Capitals suffered solely their third loss in 9 matches. Each groups stay firmly on monitor for a spot within the playoffs.
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