KL Rahul’s ambitions to return to India’s T20 side are clear as he eyes the 2026 T20 World Cup. The Indian batsman has been criticised for his slower scoring in the past, but his recent Indian Premier League (IPL) performance, amassing 539 runs at a striking rate of 149.72, suggests new intent.
As Rahul prepares for the upcoming Test series in England, the World Cup remains at the forefront of his plans. “Yes, I want to get back in the T20 team and the World Cup is in my mind,” Rahul remarked in a chat with Nasser Hussain for Sky Sports during the IPL season. Although his team, Delhi Capitals, didn’t reach the playoffs, he emerged as their top scorer.
Consistent run-scoring isn’t unfamiliar to Rahul, with significant tallies across previous IPL seasons. However, it’s his strike rate that has been a sticking point, preventing him from securing a spot in India’s T20 side. A candid Rahul admitted, “I obviously had some time to think about my white-ball game… the game is slightly changing and becoming much more faster.” His earlier comments downplaying strike rates have given way to a realisation about the necessity for boundary-hitting in modern cricket.
Rahul was absent during India’s triumphant T20 World Cup campaign in 2024, prompting him to reconsider his approach to the shortest format of the game. Reflecting on this, he said, “Just sitting and thinking about where I can get better, where the game’s gone… has been an important process.”
Aiding his transformation has been coach Abhishek Nayar. Rahul credits Nayar with significant influence, stating, “I’ve worked with him in the last 12 months quite a lot… he really helped in changing my thinking and working on my game.”
During an IPL video earlier this year, Rahul shared a light-hearted moment with Kevin Pietersen, recalling a complimentary quote about his play. Such banter reflects a player enjoying his game once more, even as he focuses on rising back to the international stage in T20 cricket.
