DUBAI: There are stars in the Indian team, and then there is KL Rahul. Retaining his place in the XI at the expense of a player of Rishabh Pant’s calibre, Rahul emerged as one of the biggest heroes of India’s Champions Trophy triumph.
In almost every match, barring the one against Pakistan where he didn’t get to bat, Rahul delivered the perfect finishing act — 41 off 47 balls against Bangladesh, 23 off 29 balls vs New Zealand, 42 off 34 balls against Australia in the semifinals and 34* off 33 balls in the final against New Zealand.
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A crucial improvement in Rahul’s game was his approach against spin, using his feet effectively to attack bowlers. He demonstrated this in the final, dispatching New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner with authoritative strokes down the ground.
Rahul’s rise was aided by the unwavering support of India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir. After the semifinal victory over Australia, when questioned about Pant’s exclusion in favour of Rahul, Gambhir confidently responded, “Rahul’s average in ODI cricket is 50 (it’s 49.08). That’s the answer.”
Praising Rahul’s composure after the final, allrounder Hardik Pandya told the host broadcaster, “Brilliant, calm, composed… he took his chances at the right time. That’s who Rahul is. He has immense talent, and I don’t think anyone can hit the ball as fluently as he does. Today was an exhibition of his class.”
India captain Rohit Sharma also acknowledged Rahul’s invaluable contributions, especially in pressure situations, saying, “KL has been doing a lot of challenging work for the team for many years. I’m very happy with how he performed in this tournament, especially under pressure in both the semifinal and the final. The contributions may not always be 70s or 80s, but those 30-40 runs are crucial. When chasing, it can get tough at the back end, but with KL at the crease, we know he keeps both himself and the dressing room calm. I’m really happy with his contributions.”
On his role as a wicketkeeper-batter, Rahul said: “Cricket is a team game, and my coaches have always taught me that you must do what the team requires. You need to accept that role and find ways to contribute. ICC victories don’t come easy—this is my first, and I’m over the moon.”
