KL Rahul (Source: AFP Photos)
Life teaches us to flow like water, adapting and shining with every chance. KL Rahul shows us exactly how it’s done. Hailing from Karnataka, he carries grit, discipline, and values in his very blood. When he dons the Indian jersey, his brilliance leaves the entire world mesmerized.
A batter can be good, maybe a master at his skills, but can he be a masterpiece like Rahul? Now, if the question arises why the batter is a masterpiece himself, the counter-question would be—why not? He ticked all the boxes to be too good at everything he does.
For the unversed in cricket might think, KL Rahul is one of the biggest figures of Indian cricket. Well, the fact is half-right because he is a big name, but the batter deserved more. After King Kohli, Rahul had all the potential to be India’s prince, yet he lingered on the sidelines as the uncrowned heir of Indian cricket.
Karnataka gives him a stage, India makes him a cricketing icon
Just like shaping red-hot iron is easier when it’s fiery, talent in cricket is forged early at the grassroots. For those who have potential, it secures a place on the national side, fulfilling their dreams. For KL Rahul, the journey was smooth as the Mangaluru-born batter triumphed every stage before making it to the Karnataka squad.
Making his first-class debut for Karnataka in 2010, KL Rahul never looked back. After twin century heroics in the Duleep Trophy 2014-15, he received his maiden Test call-up and made his debut in the longest format in the Boxing Day Test against Australia.
A Test hundred in his second Test, a 199-run knock in 2016, a fascinating century in the ODI debut, fireworks in the T20 stage, Rahul started the journey being too good at everything. Why just the International stage? He rocked the IPL stage too.
When Virat Kohli was dominating the world cricket scene as the ‘King’, KL Rahul quietly emerged as India’s next big sensation, carving his path as the ‘Prince’ in waiting. But life doesn’t always allow a smooth path always and Rahul faced some unwanted thorns in his journey.
From the next 'Prince' to being snubbed: is that even justified for Rahul?
Whenever life takes away something, it often awards us with something even more good things. For KL Rahul, that journey was longer and tougher than anyone could imagine, but the rewards made it all worth it. Growing up as India’s next big thing during the “Kohli Era”, Rahul embraced every opportunity, shone in every standout moment, and every time his bat spoke louder than words.
When India started hailing him as the next prince, Rahul faced some setbacks in his career. It is a normal thing for every cricketer, but Rahul had to pay a high price for this. From being a dependent face of the squad, he was moved slowly towards the sideline. Despite the setbacks and constant scrutiny, nothing could crush his fighting spirit.
Being treated as the optional opener in the Test, he was snubbed from the T20 World Cup 2024 despite a strong IPL season. The move is bizarre, questionable, and a bit biased too. There was no strong reply against the move, and fans kept guessing the real reason behind KL’s snub.
India in trouble? Just call KL Rahul
In the world of trouble-makers, KL Rahul is Team India’s own trouble shooter, the trusted weapon who can defy every odds. By the 2023 ODI World Cup at home, Rahul shone brighter than ever, dazzling fans with both his wicketkeeping and his lethal batting.
A King or a Prince is not someone who just leads his empire; the real ones are those who stick hard to their own people in tough times. The world may not have seen many stars playing the role as perfectly as Rahul. After Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retired from the Test, Rahul was one of the crucial assets of the young side, led by Shubman Gill.
Without counting Rahul’s years of experience, people called it a less experienced side, but the wicketkeeper batter chose to answer with the bat. His heroic 137 at Headingley, followed by a sharp 55 at Edgbaston, turned into a perfect rescue act, proving he’s India’s backbone in crunch moments.
Just not as a batter, captain KL Rahul is one of the most underrated things in world cricket. The past has seen a whole lot of the captain KL Rahul moment, but the recent one is a classic. After a horrific Test series defeat against the Proteas, Shubman Gill was ruled out of the series, and team management relied on the most trusted shoulders - KL Rahul.
With an aim of a historic turnaround, Rahul stepped into the field against South Africa with a brave heart. After a classic win, Rahul’s Team India faced a setback in the second match. The series was deepened in the third match, and the world way the sharp cricket brain of the stand-in captain.
Despite the world standing against Prasidh Krishna for being too expensive, the captain didn’t lose hope in his co-warrior, and the pacer ended up securing a four-wicket haul. With Rahul leading from the front, Team India clinched the ODI series against the Proteas, sealing a thrilling 2-1 victory.
The 'Prince' without a crown, KL Rahul wins fans’ hearts as 'King'
Rubbing shoulders with the cricket greats, fans saw him as the next leader of Team India. After the captaincy baton passed from Virat Kohli to Rohit Sharma, fans waited eagerly to see KL Rahul wearing the captain’s blazer. But as life proves, not everything comes your way, even when you give it your all, and no one understands this better than KL Rahul.
After Hitman stepped down from the captaincy, fans waited to see him at the helm, but management trusted in Shubman Gill, aiming for a long stand run. Despite doing all, Rahul remained in the leadership group, not the captain.
But as it says, a talent doesn’t need a position; it just needs a stage to deliver. Being on the sidelines, Rahul never stepped back to stand up for the team. Every time the side crumbled under pressure, he took the pressure on himself.
Behind the stumps, with a determined gaze, a charming smile, and a calming presence, KL Rahul shows us the true meaning of focus. Whenever life drives you through some crazy U-turns, be brave like KL Rahul, face everything, and bring the absolute out of yourself.
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