KL Rahul, the wicketkeeper-batter, appears to be transitioning away from his role as an opening batsman, eyeing a permanent shift to the middle order across formats. The Indian ODI team has already seen Rahul comfortably settling into the No. 5 position, indicating a potential trend that could extend to other formats.
Given India’s abundance of opening batter choices, including the promising talents of Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, along with the consistent presence of skipper Rohit Sharma, Rahul’s strategic move to the middle order seems logical. The absence of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane from the upcoming South Africa Test series opens up opportunities for a reshaped batting lineup, with Gill possibly taking the No. 3 spot and Rohit and Jaiswal at the top.
This scenario could position Shreyas Iyer and Rahul in the middle order alongside Virat Kohli. In T20 cricket, Rahul began his career as a middle-order batsman in the IPL and is reportedly contemplating a return to that role ahead of the 2024 season.
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According to reports, discussions have already taken place between Rahul and the management of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), where he captains. With a surplus of opening batters, including Kyle Mayers, Quinton de Kock, and recently acquired Devdutt Padikkal, LSG and the Indian team are exploring the prospect of Rahul consolidating his position in the middle order.
KL Rahul is set to bat in the middle order in Tests and in the IPL as well for LSG.@vijaymirror with more info 👇 👇
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) December 13, 2023
“He wants to evolve himself as a middle-order batsman across formats and establish himself there,” revealed a source familiar with developments in the Indian team.
KL Rahul’s middle-order journey is set to continue in South Africa as he gears up for the upcoming ODI and Test series. Appointed as the captain for the ODIs in the absence of several senior players, Rahul is currently training in Mumbai for the upcoming series.
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The ODI series against South Africa is scheduled to commence on Sunday, December 17, following the conclusion of the T20I series. As Team India gears up for the 2024 T20 World Cup with an aggressive approach, Rahul’s potential role in the middle order gains significance for the team’s strategic balance.
