You have an opportunity as a bowler against Glenn Maxwell, but not against KL Rahul: Wasim Akram

Following his injury recovery during the Asia Cup 2023, KL Rahul was the target of trolls, with many doubting his place in the starting lineup, particularly in light of how well Ishan Kishan had performed in his absence. But since making a reappearance, the cricket player from Bangalore has been outstanding. In the Asia Cup, Rahul ranked third among India’s run scorers, behind Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. In the ongoing ODI World Cup, Rahul has amassed 347 runs in nine matches.

Thus, bowlers may have a chance against Glenn Maxwell but not against KL Rahul, according to legendary cricketer Wasim Akram, who expressed his admiration for Rahul’s performance at number five for India. During the last league match against the Netherlands, Rahul achieved the fastest century by an Indian player in the history of the ODI World Cup, reaching the mark in just 62 deliveries. Subsequently, Akram praised him for his achievements in all three game styles, calling him a true technical batter.

As a bowler, you know you’ll have an opportunity against Maxwell, but that’s not the case with KL Rahul.

He’s a legitimate technical hitter. In Test, ODI, and T20 cricket matches, he has opened. According to Akram, he now has a different responsibility and is excelling at it.

At position five, India has the best batter: Shoaib Malik

In a comparison between KL Rahul and Heinrich Klaasen, former Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik stated that India has the superior hitter at number five. Malik defended his position by saying that Rahul is capable of finishing games and playing at a high strike rate when needed, in addition to managing the situation at number five.

“World cricket’s greatest at number five. For Klassen (Heinrich) to begin underway, a base is required. Comparatively speaking, though, India has the best hitter at number five, who can play in every circumstance. He is a player who can adjust to the circumstances if India loses two or three wickets early. We’ve seen today that he can play with a strong strike rate, improvise, and finish the game. He is capable of taking advantage of both pacers and spinners. Playing the field, he finds the gaps. He was the one who ended the match against Australia, as we have seen,” Malik remarked.