ICC World Cup 2023 | KL Rahul- Records, Profile & SWOT Analysis 

image-lmyoc6bsKL Rahul will be a key player for India in World Cup (Source: X.com)

The cricket fever has ushered in among fans. And rightly so as the ODI World Cup 2023 nears its commencement and is just 10 days away from its kickoff, beginning on October 5. The final of the tournament will be played on November 19.

India have an ODI World Cup staged in the country after 11 years. Hosting the competition, India have a very good chance of winning the trophy with their players peaking at the right time as the side won the Asia Cup 2023 and the ODI series versus Australia.

Their batting line-up now looks menacing with the return of KL Rahul solving most of the middle-order issues. Ever since coming back from an injury, Rahul has batted like he was never away and his form is holding India in a good stead right before the marquee event.

The middle-order batter could be instrumental to India's success in the World Cup. As Rahul gears up for the big challenge, let us analyze where he ranks as a player.


KL Rahul Player Profile

Rahul announced his arrival at the international level in the 2014-15 India's tour of Australia. He featured in the Test series, scoring his maiden hundred in only his second match. 

His ODI and T20I debuts came in 2016 against Zimbabwe. The 31-year-old played his first World Cup in 2019. He started in the middle-order and moved to the opening position as Shikhar Dhawan got injured. He enjoyed a great run in the tournament, scoring 361 runs in nine matches at an average of 45.12.

The Karnataka-born failed in his attempts to replicate such a performance in the T20 World Cups. However, the upcoming one-day edition of the competition could see him run his magic over the world once again.


KL Rahul Records

Rahul boasts meritorious ODI numbers. In 57 innings in the format, he has gathered 2,265 runs at an average and strike-rate of 48.19 and 87.65 respectively.

Format
Matches
Innings
Runs
Average
Strike-rate
50/100
Overall in ODIs6057226548.1987.6515/6
In ODI World Cups9936145.1277.462/1


KL Rahul: SWOT Analysis


Strengths


  • Spin play: For someone who bats in the middle-order, playing spin becomes all the more important. KL Rahul ticks this box. In 42 ODI innings, he has scored 860 runs vs spinners at average and strike-rate of 50.6 and 91.7 respectively.
  • Strike rotation: While Rahul's range is second to none, the one factor where he excels probably better than any other Indian batter is his strike-rotation. He keeps on looking for 1s and 2s and this probably is the reason why he does so well in ODIs even on tricky surfaces.


Weaknesses 

  • Wicket-keeping: If there is no Ishan Kishan in the XI, Rahul will don the wicket keeping gloves. He is not the most safest of glovemen and still needs to put in work to improve in this area.
  • High-pressure matches: This goes without saying. Rahul has had problems of his own while dealing with pressure. He will enter the World Cup, riding on solid form, but still, doubts could be there at the back of his mind.


Opportunities 

  • Getting over the big match nerves: As much as harsh it may sound, Rahul has often succumbed to pressure in big matches, albeit in a different format. The upcoming ODI World Cup will give him a chance to redeem himself and throw the underwhelming tag off his chest.


Threats

  • Injury issues: KL Rahul's injury issue is known to everyone. He missed nearly 4 months of cricket this year because of a thigh injury. Despite making a comeback in the Asia Cup and successfully leading the side in the Australian series, there is a always a threat that if KL gets injured, things could get worse for India.


Player Rating

  • Technique vs Pace: 8/10
  • Technique vs Spin 9/10
  • Temperament: 6/10
  • Range: 10/10
  • Experience: 9/10
  • Overall: 8.4/10