KL Rahul Career

image-lsreg70pKL Rahul made his international debut in 2014 [x.com]

Indian batter, KL Rahul is renowned for his elegant batting style and sharp wicketkeeping skills. Born on April 18, 1992, in Mangalore, Karnataka, India, Rahul's cricketing journey has been a tale of hard work and dedication.

His style of batting is highlighted by its classical elegance, combined with modern-day aggression. Rahul is technically sound, possessing a wide array of shots in his repertoire. He is equally comfortable against pace and spin, showcasing exquisite timing and placement. 

Rahul made his international debut in 2014 in a Test match against Australia in Melbourne. Initially known for his mastery in the longer format, he soon made a mark in limited-overs cricket as well.

One of his notable achievements is being the first Indian to score a century in all three formats of international cricket. Rahul's consistent performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) further cemented his reputation as a versatile and explosive batsman.

KL Rahul's Early Career

His cricket journey began early, as he started training at the age of 10. By 12, he was already playing matches for both the Bangalore United Cricket Club and a local club in Mangalore. 

At 18, he made a significant move to Bangalore, where he attended Jain University. This step was viral in balancing his academic pursuits and his growing cricket career.

KL Rahul Domestic Career

Rahul's domestic cricket career began with a promising start. He made his first-class cricket debut for Karnataka in the 2010–11 season. That same season, he represented India in the 2010 ICC Under-19 World Cup, where he scored a notable 143 runs.

Rahul's skills were highlighted in the 2014–15 Duleep Trophy. Playing for the South Zone in the final against the Central Zone, he scored an impressive 185 off 233 balls in the first innings and followed it up with a strong 130 off 152 balls in the second innings. 

KL Rahul Test Career

image-lt2wgnvfKL Rahul Test debut came in 2014 [x.com]

Rahul's Test debut came in the 2014 Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where he replaced Rohit Sharma. His debut cap was presented by MS Dhoni. However, his initial performance was underwhelming, scoring only 3 and 1 in his debut match.

Rahul's breakthrough in Tests came in the following match at Sydney, where he opened the innings and scored his maiden international century with 110 runs. 

In 2015, Rahul was set to tour Bangladesh but withdrew due to Dengue fever. He returned for the Sri Lankan tour, replacing an injured Murali Vijay, where he scored his second Test century and earned the Man of the Match award. His versatility was on display as he also kept wickets in this match.

Highs and Lows

Rahul's journey in Test cricket saw several highs and lows. He scored 158 runs in the 2016 West Indies series, his highest Test score at the time. However, injuries frequently interrupted his career. He was ruled out of a Test against New Zealand and missed the third Test against England in the 2016-17 series.

Career-Best Performance

Despite these setbacks, Rahul showcased resilience. In the fifth and final Test against England, he scored a career-best 199 runs, narrowly missing a double century.

Injuries and Exclusion

Injuries continued to plague Rahul's Test career. He was ruled out of the 2020 Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to an injury during practice and subsequently missed the home Test series against England in 2021. His form in Test cricket fluctuated, leading to his exclusion from the Test squad for the home tests against South Africa.


Return and Vice-Captaincy

Rahul made a significant comeback during the 2021 tour of England. With injuries to Shubman Gill and Mayank Agarwal, he opened alongside Rohit Sharma and excelled, especially in the second Test at Lords, where he scored 129 runs and was named the man of the match.


Leading India’s charge in South Africa

During the 2021-22 tour of South Africa, Rahul emerged as India’s leading run-score in the three-match Test series with 226 runs in six innings which featured one brilliant hundred. Subsequently, he scored just one fifty in his following six Tests. 

As a result, he was removed from vice-captaincy in February 2023 but was later included in the team for the South Africa tour in December after showing great form in ODIs.

During the first Test against South Africa in December 2023, he scored a brilliant 101 where he combined with the tail to score most of the runs. Although India lost the game, Rahul’s knock was widely lauded.


KL Rahul ODI Career

image-lt2wa17dKL Rahul ODI career commenced in 2016 [x.com]

Rahul's ODI career commenced with a record-setting debut against Zimbabwe in 2016, where he scored an unbeaten century, becoming the first Indian cricketer to achieve this feat on ODI debut. This remarkable start was a clear indication of Rahul's brilliance in the shorter format of the game. 

His ODI career progressed with consistent performances, marked by technical finesse and adaptability to various match situations. When examining KL Rahul stats, one can observe his significant contributions to the Indian team's success in ODIs, cementing his position as a key player in the lineup.

ICC World Cup 2019: A Turning Point

The ICC World Cup 2019 was a significant milestone in Rahul's ODI career. Initially playing at number 4, he adapted to a new role as an opener after Shikhar Dhawan's injury. Throughout the tournament, Rahul was a key contributor to the team, scoring 361 runs, including two fifties and a century. He finished as India's third-highest run-scorer, behind Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, showcasing his ability to perform on the big stage.

Leadership and Growth

Rahul's role in the ODI team evolved over the years, and his leadership skills were recognized when he was named as the captain for the series against South Africa in December 2021, filling in for the injured Rohit Sharma. This appointment was proof of his growth as a player and his ability to lead the team.

Triumphant Return in the Asia Cup 2023

Returning from an extended injury break, Rahul made a remarkable comeback in the Asia Cup 2023 against Pakistan, where he hit an impressive 111 not out off 106 balls. Buoyed by his Asia Cup success, Rahul secured a spot in the ICC World Cup 2023 squad. He was also appointed as the captain for the first two ODIs in the series against Australia leading up to the World Cup.

ICC World Cup 2023: A Stellar Campaign

Rahul kicked off his World Cup 2023 journey with a standout performance, scoring an unbeaten 97 against Australia, steering India through a challenging chase after an early loss of 3 wickets at just 2 runs. In the World Cup 2023 Final, he contributed a solid 66 runs against Australia. Overall, he amassed 452 runs across 11 matches at an impressive average of 75.33, including two fifties and a century.


KL Rahul T20I Career 

image-lt2wcltvKL Rahul T20I career began in 2016 [x.com] 

Rahul's journey in the T20I format began in 2016 on the tour of Zimbabwe. Despite a disappointing start with a golden duck on his debut, he quickly made a significant impact by scoring his first T20I century against West Indies in the same year. 

Record-Breaking Performances and Unique Challenges

Rahul's T20I career is marked by several record-breaking performances. He became the fastest batsman to score centuries in all three formats of international cricket in just his 20th international inning. In 2018, he scored his second T20I ton against England and became the first Indian batsman to be dismissed hit-wicket in T20Is, showing that his journey wasn't without its unique challenges.

Leadership and T20 World Cup 2021 Heroics

As his career progressed, Rahul's leadership qualities were recognized, leading to his appointment as the vice-captain of the Indian T20I team. He was the highest run-scorer for India in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021, including scoring the tournament's joint-fastest fifty against Scotland. His performance in the tournament highlighted his importance to the team in the shortest format of the game.

KL Rahul IPL Career

image-lt2wj0s3KL Rahul made his IPL debut in 2013 [x.com]

Rahul made his IPL debut in 2013 with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) as a wicket-keeper batsman. In 2014, he moved to Sunrisers Hyderabad, bought for INR 1 crore, and then returned to RCB in 2016. During the 2016 IPL, he emerged as a key player for RCB, scoring 397 runs and finishing as the team's third highest run-scorer. However, he missed the 2017 season due to a shoulder injury.

Rahul's move to Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in 2018 for INR 11 crore marked a significant turn in his career. He started with a bang, scoring the fastest 50 in IPL history in just 14 balls. That season, he scored 659 runs and finished as the third-highest run-scorer. Retained for the 2019 season, Rahul scored his maiden IPL century and was named vice-captain, amassing 593 runs. 

In December 2019, he was announced as the captain for the 2020 season. His leadership was impactful, and he won the Orange Cap in IPL 2020, scoring the most runs (670). He continued as captain in 2021, scoring 626 runs and finishing as the team's highest scorer.

New Chapter with Lucknow Super Giants (2022–present)

In 2022, Rahul joined the newly formed Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) as captain, drafted for INR 17 crore. He led LSG to the playoffs in their debut season, scoring 616 runs with an average of 51.33, including two centuries. Despite an injury that cut short his 2023 season, Rahul's impact at LSG had already been firmly established.

KL Rahul Career: Frequently Asked Questions

Q.1. When did KL Rahul make his international debut?

Answer: KL Rahul made his international debut in a Test match against Australia in December 2014.

Q.2. How did Rahul fare in his ODI debut?

Answer: KL Rahul had a spectacular ODI debut against Zimbabwe in 2016, where he scored a century, becoming the first Indian cricketer to achieve a century on ODI debut.

Q.3. What was KL Rahul's role in the ICC World Cup 2019?

Answer: In the ICC World Cup 2019, KL Rahul played initially at number 4 but adapted to an opening role after Shikhar Dhawan's injury. He was a key player for India, scoring 361 runs, including two fifties and a century.

Q.4. Has KL Rahul captained in the IPL?

Answer: Yes, Rahul captained Punjab Kings in the 2020 and 2021 IPL seasons and was later appointed as the captain of Lucknow Super Giants in 2022.

Q.5. Has KL Rahul won the Orange Cap in the IPL?

Answer: Yes, KL Rahul won the Orange Cap in IPL 2020 as the highest run-scorer (670).