Indian batter K L Rahul reflects on his journey from being labelled a Test specialist to becoming a successful T20 player.
Key Points
- K L Rahul is proud to have shed the 'Test specialist' tag and develop his T20 game.
- Rahul acknowledges mistakes but remains committed to giving his best in every game.
- He emphasises the importance of staying balanced and enjoying the journey in cricket.
K L Rahul has accepted that things won't always go his way, especially when it comes to his T20 International career, but the India and Delhi Capitals batter is glad that he has managed to "break" the perception of him being a Test specialist.
Last month, the 34-year-old smacked a 64-ball 152 not out in the ongoing IPL, albeit in a losing cause against Punjab Kings, but the record-breaking knock showed his growth in the shortest format. The Karnataka player has not turned up in a T20 for India since 2022, but remains a Test and ODI regular.
Rahul's Journey From Test Player To T20 Star
Speaking on JioStar show 'Superstars', Rahul said he is proud of the progress he has made in the last decade.
"Ten years ago, I would have given anything to be part of a T20 team. I was never rated as a T20 player or even considered a good white-ball player; I was branded a Test player," he said.
"So, to break out of that mould, develop my white-ball game and come this far is something I'm really proud of. Along the way, I've made mistakes and there are things I could have done better," he added.
"But, what I'm proud of is that I've given my absolute best every time I've played and prepared as well as I could to give myself the best chance to succeed. That's sport; things won't always go your way."
Maintaining Balance And Perspective In Cricket
Rahul said he has tried to "stay balanced" irrespective of the results.
"You have to take it in your stride and enjoy the journey...Whenever I feel low about what I haven't achieved, I remind myself of what I have, and it gives me perspective.
"I still have some time left. So, I'll keep trying my best and see how many trophies I can win."
On his aggression in Powerplay overs
Rahul weighed in on adapting to the aggressive style at the top of the order and said, "T20 cricket has evolved over the last two or three years, especially in the IPL. You can see patterns in how teams are winning, and recently, teams that win the Power Play often go on to win the game. A few years ago, games were usually decided between the 14th and 20th overs. The Powerplay was always important, but now it carries even more weight. For me, personally, it's something I've had to adapt to for the team."
"This season, the messaging from the team management was very clear. They spoke to me before the IPL and wanted me to bat at the top of the order and play with freedom. Teams are aiming for upwards of 60 in that phase. Having that clarity gave me time to think about how to achieve it within my skill set. I've tried to go out each game with that intent. You won't always succeed, but the idea is right. My focus is on maximising the Powerplay, because that's the demand of the team and of T20 cricket right now," he further added.
Rahul is second in the race for the Orange Cap this year with 433 runs made in nine innings, only trailing Abhishek Sharma (440). He has made runs at an average of 54.12 and a strike rate of 185.84. He has hit three fifties and a century so far this season.
Speaking about opening the batting alongside Pathum Nissanka in DC, Rahul said, "It's been fun. There isn't a lot of talk in the middle. We've had one or two good partnerships, getting off to a flying start. That's what the team wants, around 60 in the Powerplay. Even a 25-30 run contribution in the first few overs sets the tone for the innings. The conversations between Pathum and me are mostly about playing good cricketing shots while maintaining an aggressive mindset. I've had many opening partners over the years, so it's always enjoyable playing with different players. You learn a lot about the game and about each other."
"Most of the discussions happen off the field. At training, we talk about the shots we can play against different bowlers, what our options are if a spinner starts in the Powerplay, and how to stay clear in our approach. We try to challenge each other in training, and once we're out in the middle, it's about staying relaxed and enjoying the competition."
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