In the Twenty20 Internationals, star batsman KL Rahul has been highly recommended by Delhi Capitals coach Kevin Pietersen as a worthy contender for India’s No. 4 berth. Prior to the Men’s T20 World Cup in 2026, Pietersen urged Rahul to rejoin the national team and commended his recently adopted hitting technique.
Prior to IPL 2025, the right-hand hitter was acquired by the Capitals for INR 14 crore, and he has since made a significant impact with the bat. He has scored 364 runs in eight games, including three half-centuries, at an average of 60.66 and a strike rate of 146.18. Last night, Rahul scored 41 off 39 balls against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, but his performance was insufficient as Delhi failed to reach a respectable total. But it was his intent and upbeat attitude at the crease that drew the former England captain’s attention, not just the stats.
“I’d bat KL at four for India in T20 cricket, I think you guys have got plenty of opening batters, you’ve got Surya who bats at the top, you’ve got all of these guys but the way that KL Rahul is playing cricket now, he would be my first choice to bat at four and keep wicket for India.” KL has been playing in a really good way since the middle to end of last year. Pietersen stated at the news conference following the game on Sunday, April 27, “We saw how he finished off a couple of the games for India and nearly sealed the deal in the Champions Trophy in Dubai.”
KL Rahul and I have had many extremely insightful conversations: Kevin Pietersen
Since the 2022 World Cup semifinal defeat to England, the 33-year-old has not been included in India’s T20I lineup. The Karnataka native has improved his game over the past year by regaining his fluid approach and letting go of the deep-playing pressure that was slowing him down. The Indian hitter had difficulties adjusting his style of play, according to the former England international.
“I’ve had many really insightful and thought-provoking talks with him about batting because, when you’re a kid like him, you’re taught to defend, elbow up, and play in the V, and then all of a sudden in your thirties you have to change it and become a different kind of player for a different format that is constantly changing. It’s really, really hard. As a result, his acceptance of the fact that he needed to change and his subsequent transformation are extremely commendable. He exudes positivity in all aspects of his training, practice, and approach to the game, including his thoughts and speech. “KL,” Pietersen continued.
Regarding the importance of technique in contemporary cricket, the Delhi coach also held the view that, even though younger players are introducing new methods, players like Rahul, who combine classic and modern methods, are crucial, particularly on harder wickets.
“I believe that many of these players will not participate in cricket Test matches. It’s likely that you’re viewing it as a view, and I do too. When I look at it, I say, “This is crazy. Some of the shots you see and how quickly these guys play the shots look like complete madness, but that’s the form of the game,” he continued.
“On wickets like we’re playing on this evening (DC vs RCB game), you can’t play that way, and you’ve got to be methodical, you’ve got to find rhythm, Virat [Kohli] found rhythm this evening, KL got rhythm and I think that’s where you see the true batter, the real batter that can come out there and sort of monitor the situation, and it looks effortless because they’ve built a technique for 20 years, 30 years, whereas you give the absolute belters and that’s when the next generation can come in and do all sorts of things,” he stated.
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