On Friday, October 3, KL Rahul slammed his third century for India in the new WTC cycle and also ended his run drought at home by bringing up only his second Test hundred. KL Rahul is in the form of his life, and interestingly, with the century against West Indies, the 33-year-old also produced his career-best calendar year in Test cricket.
KL has already scored 649 runs in just seven Tests and surpassed his previous best year of 633 runs in 2017. It took KL Rahul eight years to beat his previous best, but nonetheless, the right-handed batter is enjoying a great time in the red-ball cricket and look at the possible reasons behind his golden patch with the bat.
Let's look at KL Rahul's performance every year
YearSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
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50/100Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
2014Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 4Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 30.76Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 0/0Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2015Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 8Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 252Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 31.50Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 47.90Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 0/2Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2016Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 9Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 539Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 59.88Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 62.02Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 1/2Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2017Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 14Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 633Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 48.69Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 58.88Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 9/0Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2018Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 12Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 468Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 22.28Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 59.01Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 1/1Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2019Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 5Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 110Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 22.00Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 39.71Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 0/0Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2021Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 10Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 461Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 46.10Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 43.12Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 1/2Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2022Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 8Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 137Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 17.12Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 36.14Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 1/0Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2023Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 5Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 143Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 28.60Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 51.81Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 0/1Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2024Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 16Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 493Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 35.21Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 57.52Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 4/0Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2025Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 13Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 649Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 49.92Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 50.03Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2/3Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
Career Peak: 2016-2017 KL Rahul's peak years were his initial years in his career, where the right-handed batter averaged nearly 60 in 2016 and 50 in 2017. Further, in these two years, he displayed consistency and slammed 10 fifties and a solitary century.
Worst Phase: 2022-2024 Rahul's worst Test phase came from 2022-2024, where the right-handed batter even struggled to touch an average of 40. In 2022 and 2023, Rahul only averaged 18 and 29, whereas in 2024, his performance improved slightly and average jumped to 35.21.
In these three years, Rahul only managed to score five fifties and a solitary Test century.
How did KL Rahul return to form in 2025? 1. Stability in batting order If we look at KL's career, then the right-handed batter has always put the team above himself and in order to do so, his position in the batting order has shuffled a lot. However, under Gambhir, Rahul's batting order has been fixed and the right-handed batter is aware that he will only open the innings alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. Thus, the 33-year-old trains and practice in a similar fashion.
If we shed light on KL's prime years in 2016 and 2017, then the right-handed batter only opened the innings, whereas in the rest of the years, his batting order was consistency shuffled.
YearSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
Batting PositionSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
RunsSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
2014Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table No. 3, No. 6Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 4Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2015Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table OpeningSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 252Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2016Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table OpeningSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 539Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2017Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table OpeningSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 633Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2018Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Opening, No. 3, Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 468Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2019Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table OpeningSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 110Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2021Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table OpeningSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 461Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2022Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table OpeningSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 137Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2023Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Opening, No. 6Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 143Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2024Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Opening, No. 3, No. 4, No. 6Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 493Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2025Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table OpeningSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 649Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
If we look at the year 2018, then a seed was sown than KL can also bat in the middle-order. Further, since 2023, the management constantly shuffled with KL's batting position, but eventually, they realised the mistake and fixed KL to open the innings and it produced immediate results.
2. Converting good starts in big scores One of the major things that have improved for KL Rahul is his conversion rate. Earlier, he has always got the starts, but failed to convert those starts or fifties into big totals. However, it is not the case in 2025, KL has already scored three centuries in this year, the most for him in any calendar year.
Rahul had a great 2016 and 2017, but even in those years, he had 10 fifties and only a single century, which indicates that he got the runs, but never converted those fifty-plus scores to a big hundred.
3. No Pressure to play all-format Earlier, KL Rahul was a go to player for India across formats, but at the moment, he is out of scheme of things in the shortest format of the game, which helps him focus more on Test cricket.
India has played few ODIs in 2025 and more T20is as the World Cup is scheduled for next year, which has given KL more time to practice red-ball cricket.
Now since, KL was out of Asia Cup squad , he featured for India A against Australia A and slammed a century, which boosted his confidence to perform at home.
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KL Rahul for India - (Source : AFP)
.jpg?type=mq "Sai Sudharsan vs Rajat Patidar")
