The wk-batter KL Rahul has opened on his views on being dropped down to no.6 in the batting lineup after India’s four-wicket win against Australia in the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy 2025.
After becoming a full-time No. 5 in ODI cricket, KL Rahul expanded his range as a middle-order batter. He has an average of 61.52 in that position which is higher than anyone else since 2020.
Dangerous Hitter Heinrich Klaasen’s average is also seven points less than Rahul’s average. But during the Champions Trophy campaign, India is keen to break the line-up of right-handers and hence decided to promote Axar Patel to No. 5.
As a result, Rahul dropped down to No. 6, but he adapted to the position and has been working on boundary hitting a lot more.
Speaking at the post-match conference, KL Rahul said, “Yeah, I do [enjoy batting at the top], I mean I won’t lie.”
“It’s after opening the batting in Australia in Test matches and having to face that attack in Australia and you know how red-ball [cricket] is much harder.”
“I opened the batting there and then to come here and bat low seems a bit different, but this is how I’ve played white-ball cricket in the last four-five years.”
“So, I’m quite used to going up and down the order so I’m just happy getting a chance to play in the middle and whatever role is given, I think it’s really helped me understand my game a lot more and I’ve had to work on boundary hitting a lot more in the last year or so because the last ODI we played in Sri Lanka I batted at No. 6, so I knew that’s where I’ll be batting and [we] needed a left-hander in the top order.”
India edge out Australia in a nervy chase to punch their ticket to the #ChampionsTrophy Final 🎫#INDvAUS 📝: https://t.co/hFrI2t8AC9 pic.twitter.com/ftpmHXJ2m4
— ICC (@ICC) March 4, 2025
Before the Champions Trophy, there was a selection woes between Rahul and Rishabh Pant for the wicketkeeper’s spot. But Rahul has been selected as the first choice player.
KL Rahul who came to bat after the dismissal of Axar Patel, India needed 86 runs in 15 overs with six wickets in hand.
After Virat Kohli’s dismissal for 84 runs, it seemed like Australia had the upper advantage, but Rahul stood up smoothly transistioned the innings towards victory and completed the inning with 42 runs off 34 deliveries.
“Honestly, I mean it’s since I think 2020 I’ve batted at No.5 and a lot of times people forget that that’s where I’ve been batting,” Rahul said.
“And every time I perform in a series and then there’s a break from ODI series, ODI cricket and then we come back after four or five months there’s a question mark again about ‘oh well will he play in the XI, where does he fit’ and sometimes I’m sitting there thinking what more can I do.”
“Everywhere that I’ve been asked to play I’ve played and I feel like I have performed my role. Whatever’s been told to me by Rohit [Sharma], Rohit’s been the captain for the last four-five years.”
“And whatever he’s told me I feel like I’ve done that to the best of my ability. And I know that Rohit feels the same and he’s always supported me and backed me with that. So, there’s that confidence going into game that the captain has my back.”
Hardik Pandya who played a cameo performance had been dismissed for 28 runs. “When I walked in and when I played 10-12 balls I told him that you’re the batter that needs to go on and be there till the end,” said Rahul.
“And let me try and hit or let me try and take one chance an over. Because like you said we only needed 6 runs and over. But 6 runs and over on that wicket seemed like 8-8.5. So, you had to take one chance and over, one boundary or one six.
“So, I told him that I will do that and why don’t you just rotate the strike and be there because you’re the set batter and it might be harder. If you get out another set batter comes it becomes a lot more harder. But yeah, he felt like it was in his range to hit and yeah he didn’t time it well.”
With India headed to the finals, the second finalist will be decided with the clash between New Zealand and South Africa played on March 05 at Lahore.
