The Indian cricketer talked candidly about switching from a stable No. 5 to a fresh position at No. 6 after helping secure India’s place in Tuesday’s ICC Champions Trophy final.
In order to give the team’s batting more variation before the Champions Trophy, the switch was done.
Rahul’s ability to adapt and prepare for a new role According to ESPNcricinfo. Rahul is currently working on his boundary-hitting abilities after maintaining an impressive average of 57.26 as a middle-order batter (position 4-7) since 2020. He told Star Sports after India’s victory, “I’m quite used to going up and down the order so I’m just happy getting a chance to play in the middle.” This statement highlights his preparedness for this new challenge and dedication to work on his game further.
Rahul’s thoughts regarding the uncertain batting order Addressing the uncertainty over his role in the team, Rahul said he has been batting at No. 5 since 2020 and people tend to forget that.
He said he has been performing consistently no matter the position and credited Rohit Sharma for his constant support throughout his career.
This statement shows Rahul’s confidence as a versatile player who can adjust to different roles in the team.
Rahul’s strategy for navigating challenging pitches
In the semi-final match against Australia, Rahul encountered a slow pitch that assisted spin.
He opted to take calculated risks every over, particularly when Kohli was in control at the other end.
This strategic move paid off as he scored an unbeaten 42 off 34 balls, taking India into the final.
His performance emphasizes his ability to adapt and strategize according to the conditions of play.
KL Rahul as a middle order batter since 2020
As a middle order batter since 2020 (posiition 4-7), Rahul owns 1,947 runs from 51 matches (46 innings) at 57.26, as per ESPNcricinfo. He owns 4 tons in addition to 12 fifties. He has smashed 147 fours and 51 sixes.
Rahul completes 3,000 ODI and 5,000 List A runs
During the India vs Australia match, Rahul became the third-fastest Indian to complete 3,000 ODI runs.
He entered the match needing only 33 runs to reach the milestone. In the meantime, with his 23rd run, he also passed 5,000 runs in List A cricket. Rahul took just 78 innings to complete 3,000 ODI runs. Among Indians, only Shikhar Dhawan (72) and Virat Kohli (75) have reached the milestone faster.