When we talk about Indian cricket, we usually talk about big names – names that are absolute superstars of the game or are becoming one. However, in the process, we often end up forgetting someone who has been the unsung hero of the team and an integral part of it for a long time, and that is KL Rahul. One will never see him among the headline names or chasing credit. But whenever the team needs him, Rahul is that certain someone who always steps up.
Needless to say, he is one of the most technically sound and reliable batters the Indian team have. Whether it is opening the innings, batting down the order, or being moved up and down as per the demands of the team combination, we never see Rahul shying away from responsibility, with no complaints of any sort. He even takes up captaincy and leadership duties whenever the team asks him to, and executes the role with utmost diligence.
Sadly, what he faces most of the time instead of recognition is blatant criticism – often being the only one blamed for a defeat. His approach is questioned, his batting criticised for its pace – so much so that it often gets reduced to downright abuse. While it is inevitable for someone in the public eye to be on the radar of trolls, Rahul has mostly been the one to take all the blame, yet he is never seen reacting or making controversial comments. One never sees even a pinch of arrogance in him. He chooses to focus on doing his job and remain calm on and off the field, which clearly reflects his grace and humble nature.
When we talk about Rahul getting blamed, we need to bring up November 19, 2023 – a day that is still capable of breaking hearts whenever mentioned. For the longest time, he was criticised, abused, and even bullied for the “slow” knock he played, becoming a villain in the eyes of fans. However, overwhelmed by emotion, what one often forgets is that cricket is a team game.
After an extremely successful campaign, what happened that day was unfortunate. If we look closely, the entire batting order underperformed. Apart from one or two, nobody was able to match standards previously set. In such a scenario, Rahul stood his ground, assessed the conditions, and refused to take unnecessary risks. It would not be wrong to state that he was one of the reasons India were even able to reach a respectable total.
In the first ODI against New Zealand, we once again saw sparks of brilliance when he stepped up for the team. Being the only reliable batter left, he anchored the innings, allowing others to bat around him and take risks with big shots. One might again call it slow, but what he does is vital – assessing the conditions, playing accordingly, and accelerating when required.
We all remember the Champions Trophy semi-final against Australia last year, where he took on the role of the aggressor while Virat Kohli was at the other end. When Kohli, on the verge of a century, played a risky shot and got out, Rahul was visibly frustrated and said, “Main maar raha thaa na yaar [I was taking the risk, man]”, a clear reflection of his selfless nature.
If we shift focus to another format, the England-India Test in Manchester last August saw him play a priceless knock. His fellow opener, Yashasvi Jaiswal, was dismissed for a duck, and so was Sai Sudharsan at No. 3. The score read 0–2, but Rahul stayed calm and carried the innings forward alongside Shubman Gill, forging a long partnership. While Gill went on to score a century and we later witnessed hundreds from Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja, Rahul was unfortunately dismissed on 90. His contribution, however, was invaluable and somehow overlooked amid the centuries.
Currently, he has an ODI average of 50 and a Test average of 36. Additionally, India have won 13 out of 13 matches when Rahul has remained unbeaten in an ODI run chase. He also holds the record for the highest ODI average for a batter at No. 4 or below this decade (59.1). What truly makes him stand out is his temperament and adaptability – qualities that are increasingly rare in today’s fast-paced world. In an era where roles are fluid and expectations loud, Rahul has repeatedly moulded himself according to the situation, even at the cost of personal numbers or recognition.
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