KL Rahul is well and truly an enigma. That he has talent is known the world over. In fact, no one in a proper frame of mind would question that. However, when it comes to key contests, and it has been proved time and again, Rahul just bottles it and is unable to deliver to potential. Does he put too much pressure on himself or is it something else? India don’t have answers to these questions, and this will surely be one of the reasons why he will perhaps be overlooked for captaincy for the England series.
Take the 2019 World Cup. Rahul played superbly well in the match against Pakistan when he was asked to open. He was great support, emphasis on the word support, for Rohit Sharma, and it was the opening stand that won India the game in Manchester. Thereafter, he scored a great 100 in Leeds and looked in sublime touch. However, come the high-pressure semi-final against New Zealand, andRahul faltered. With Virat Kohli and Rohit not scoring, India needed Rahul to step up. He could not.
The same could be said of the 2021 T20 World Cup. With Shaheen Shah Afridi taking Rohit out in the game against Pakistan, the focus was on Rahul. Things did not work out again. It was only in the third and inconsequential game that he played a dazzling innings.
The very same pattern repeated itself in the 2023 World Cup. Rahul had a very good tournament right up to the final. But when India needed him to steer the team to a competitive total and win the final, he faltered. It was a laboured innings, and the one that resulted in a lot of fan ire.
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Things have been the same in the IPL as well. Just when you thought Rahul as captain would win it for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Eliminator in 2022, with 36 to get off three overs, he failed. For Delhi Capitals (DC) too, things did not change much this season. Rahul is excellent when the spotlight is not firmly on him – when he isn’t the alpha male and part of the support cast.
So, what’s the issue? Talent clearly isn’t, for he has loads of it. For me, he is too intense. A perfectionist of sorts, he puts too much pressure on himself, and in doing so, stops enjoying the process. The determination or rather the obsessiveness to do well turns unhealthy at times, and that’s what has cost him big time. With his potential, a Test average of 35 after a decade or more in international cricket isn’t exactly something to be proud of.
Can he mend things and turn it around? Or is it too late for him? He can. He will have to think deep and unwind a little. Be a little less intense, and take a little less pressure. Forget about the outside world and enjoy the process. Easier said than done, but that’s the only option for Rahul. With so much talent, if he doesn’t make the most of it, he would be doing a grave injustice to himself and India.
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