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KL Rahul’s opportunity to play as a wicketkeeper and middle-order batter in One Day International matches is his best and only remaining option after being brutally removed from the Test eleven. This is due to the harsh criticism he has faced due to his strike rate in the T20 matches. KL Rahul is an exceptional player with commendable averages. KL Rahul's stats of 2006 runs for test matches, 1509 runs in ODIs and 1542 runs in the Twenty20 Internationals are a testament to that.
According to KL Rahul, the strike rates of his games are highly exaggerated. While playing with Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League, he mentioned that his strike rates do not hold any significance in the IPL matches he has played so far. He held the same sentiment while he was playing in the IPL as the captain of Lucknow SuperGiants, and most recently, he reiterated the same at an event celebrating the relaunch of his team’s shirt.
When the IPL starts every year, KL Rahul's stats are known to combine his batting strategy with exceptional skills to produce effective results that can lead his team to victory. His performance in these matches is essential as they may have a direct impact on his future in the T20 matches. The backlash and criticism he has faced over losing his position in the team for Test matches might be easier to bear if he starts concentrating on playing well in the upcoming ODI matches for the country.
India’s fielding coach T Dilip told the media houses that he believes KL Rahul to be a great player with extraordinary track records as a middle-order batter in the ODI. He is a great team player and captain who provides his team with much-needed balance. He is also someone who has been playing this game since the time when he was just a kid.
KL Rahul might be a middle-order batter with an average run rate, but his lifetime statistics while batting between 4th and 7th positions have proven to be better than his opening scores. In the 25 games that he has played, his total run score was 878, with an average run rate of 48.77 each game.
His best run so far, 658 runs in total, was scored when he was batting as a batter in the fifth position in the team. Even if the match situation frequently determines the batting strategy, a performance in the test series against Sri Lanka, like his unbeaten score of 64 runs in 103 balls during one of the most exciting chases in his batting career, was meritable in itself.
KL Rahul is often compared with MS Dhoni as being the last wicket keeper who mastered the ability to play as a middle-order batter for various matches. Rahul might be a permanent fixture in his current batting position if the hopes of winning the World Cup are pinned on him. His mediocre batting stats from 2022, with 251 runs in all 10 matches in the year, will need an enhancement to keep his audience and gameplay engaged.
When asked about the fitness concerns of the players who are set to play in the upcoming games, Fielding coach T. Dilip made a statement defending the cricket system in India. He claimed that the institution has one of the best medical facilities at its fingertips, with constant collaboration with the medical team of the National Cricket Academy.
In addition to his batting and wicket keeping prowess and abilities, KL Rahul is often praised and accoladed for his elegant and collected attitude both on and off the cricket pitch. He is an important member of the Indian cricket team and will continue to play a significant role in the field of Indian sports.
