In cricket, KL Rahul is among the most gifted players to have represented India. He hasn’t yet fulfilled his potential, nevertheless, in the opinion of many cricket fans and analysts.
After progressing through the Under-19 cricket divisions, Rahul made his first-class debut during the 2010–2011 campaign. The right-handed batter was dropped the next season, but he came back in the 2012–2013 season and finished as the top run scorer.
Rahul debuted for his country in a Test match against Australia in Melbourne in December 2014. In both innings, he was removed for little scores. He did, however, smash a spectacular century in the subsequent Test match in Sydney, winning him high appreciation from both experts and fans. He made his debut in ODI cricket in June 2016 in Harare, defeating Zimbabwe with an undefeated century. Rahul’s first ODI appearance was a week later, when he was bowled for a first-ball duck against Zimbabwe, making his T20I debut unmemorable.
In 58 Test matches, Rahul has amassed 3,257 runs at an average of 33.58. There are eight hundred and seventeen fifties on his record. Although his red-ball figures may not be very noteworthy, he has performed admirably in limited-overs situations. Over 85 games, he has scored 3,043 runs at an average of 49.08 and a strike rate of 88.18 in ODIs. He has seven tonnes and eighteen fifties in the format. With a strike rate of 139.13 and an average of 37.75, he has amassed 2,265 runs from 72 games in T20Is.
Rahul has frequently been questioned about his strike rate in the shortest format and consistency in all formats. With a strike rate of 135.86 and an average of 46.31, he has amassed 5,187 runs from 144 games in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
KL Rahul has been in outstanding form this season.
He had a good performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, forming some outstanding opening pairs with Yashasvi Jaiwal. His dominance at the top of the order pushed then-captain Rohit Sharma to drop to No. 6 at one stage during the trip. Rahul also had a remarkable Champions Trophy 2025 campaign, scoring 140 runs from four innings at a staggering average of 140 and playing a significant role in India’s victory.
Will it be fair to suggest that Rahul is the next big cricket icon after Virat Kohli? The answer is “no.” This is because Rahul is now 33 years old. While he may be at the peak of his international career, he will only play for another seven years. This might not be enough to match Kohli’s exacting standards.
However, if the Mangaluru native continues to provide consistent performances, he will be remembered as one of India’s most legendary batsmen. Also, he is a genuine match-winner, and if he performs well, the Men in Blue will benefit.
KL Rahul is presently playing for Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2025 after being signed by the franchise at last year’s mega auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He has already scored 504 runs in 12 innings, with an average of 56. He is striking at 148.67, his highest in a season since the IPL 2018. While the Capitals failed to make the playoffs, Rahul’s performances stood out.
The experienced campaigner will play a key role in India’s upcoming trip to England, which includes five Test matches. Rahul has 614 runs from 18 Test innings in the United Kingdom, with an average of 34.11. Now that Kohli and Rohit Sharma have departed from red-ball cricket, Rahul will need to use his experience to lead the batting lineup.
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