'Best No. 5 In World Cricket' - Shoaib Malik's Massive Remark On  KL Rahul After IND vs NED

KL Rahul after century in Bangalore (AP Photos)

India stayed unbeaten in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023's group stages with a commanding victory over the Netherlands on Sunday. Batting first, Gill and Rohit set the stage with a fiery start. Later, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul's 208-run partnership lifted India to a mammoth total of 410, which proved to be above par for a side like the Netherlands.

Meanwhile, former Pakistan captain and all-rounder Shoaib Malik reviewed India's dominating win and spoke highly of wicketkeeper KL Rahul. In a conversation with A Sports, Malik referred to Rahul as the 'best no. 5 in world cricket.'

Malik believes KL Rahul is a special talent who can bat against his natural game to adapt to situations. He is extremely flexible and can play at any given position, from opening to number 5, while keeping the wickets as well.

The Pakistan veteran added that KL's ability to play tackle, both spin and pace comfortably, is what sets him apart from the masses. Thus, having a complete player like KL Rahul is a massive asset for any side, let alone the Indian cricket team. 

Here's what Shoaib Malik said on KL Rahul

"He can finish the match, can improvise, and can play with a good strike rate, and we have seen it today. He is good against spinners as well as the pacers. He picks the gaps and plays the field. Against Australia, we have seen he was the one who finished the match."

Undoubtedly, KL Rahul's resurgence has been a blessing for India in this World Cup. Rehabbing from a grievous thigh injury, the middle-order batter showed utmost reliance and grit to regain fitness in time for the big event. Furthermore, his sharpened wicket-keeping skills have just left the fans in awe.

Going forward in the knockout stages, KL Rahul will have a pivotal role to play. With Hardik Pandya ruled out, Rahul has to mold into the finisher's role as well. It's a challenge. But at the same time, KL has the opportunity to become a part of history and further cement his place on the white ball side.