Team India wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul admitted that he sometimes feels frustrated by the constant scrutiny over his ODI spot despite his strong record in the format. He pointed out that since ODI series are played with gaps of four to five months, his contributions are often overlooked.
India secured a four-wicket win over Australia in the 2025 Champions Trophy semifinal in Dubai on March 4. Chasing 265, Virat Kohli led the innings with 84 off 98 balls, while Rahul played a crucial unbeaten knock of 42* off 34. Rahul has been batting at No. 6 in the tournament, with Axar Patel promoted to No. 5.
Speaking to Star Sports after India sealed their place in the final, KL Rahul acknowledged that the constant scrutiny does affect him at times. The Karnataka batter told ESPNcricinfo:
“Honestly, since 2020, I’ve batted at No. 5, but people often forget that. Every time I perform, then there’s a break, and when we return, questions arise again about my place in the XI. Sometimes I wonder, what more can I do?”
“Wherever I’ve been asked to play, I’ve played and fulfilled my role. Rohit has led for the last four-five years, and whatever he’s asked of me, I’ve done to the best of my ability. I know he feels the same and has always backed me,” the 32-year-old added.
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“I told him he needed to carry on”- KL Rahul on his chat with Virat Kohli
During India’s chase of 265, Rahul and Kohli built a vital 47-run fifth-wicket stand after Axar Patel’s dismissal (27). Rahul took the aggressive role, while Kohli focused on strike rotation before getting out. When asked about their on-field chat, Rahul shared:
“When I walked in and when I played 10-12 balls I told him that you’re the batter that needs to go on and be there till the end. And let me try and hit or let me try and take one chance an over.”
”Because like you said we only needed 6 runs and over. But 6 runs and over on that wicket seemed like 8-8.5. So, you had to take one chance and over, one boundary or one six.”
“So, I told him that I will do that and why don’t you just rotate the strike and be there because you’re the set batter and it might be harder. If you get out another set batter comes it becomes a lot more harder. But yeah, he felt like it was in his range to hit and yeah he didn’t time it well,” Rahul added.
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