KL Rahul: India's unsung hero whose failures echo louder than his successes
KL Rahul (Source: BCCI on X)
Published - 14 Jan 2026, 06:16 PM• Read time - 12 mins
When KL Rahul walked out to bat in Rajkot in the 2nd ODI against New Zealand on Wednesday, India were stuttering at 115/3 after 21.3 overs. The tourists were dictating terms, and the Men in Blue were staring down the barrel.
What followed was a masterclass in temperament as Rahul scored an unbeaten hundred and scripted a rescue of the highest order. He overcame the early nerves, steadied India's turbulent ship as wickets tumbled around him, and then shifted into a higher gear when he had New Zealand ducking for cover.
11 fours, a maximum, and a strike rate of 121.73: Rahul rebuilt, controlled the tempo, and counterattacked to take India to a competitive total of 284, which at a stage looked improbable.
It was the kind of effort that often lays down the foundation for a win. However, to Rahul and to the agony of 1.4 billion Indian fans, it turned out to be a reminder that even his finest efforts often don’t receive the result or the recognition they deserve.
And that has been the story of his career way too many times.
A match-winner eclipsed by legends
Very few careers illustrate the paradox of impact without a spotlight quite like Rahul’s. The 33-year-old played two monumental knocks under immense pressure during India's victorious Champions Trophy 2025 campaign: an unbeaten 42 versus Australia in the semis and an unbeaten 34 against New Zealand in the final. Both came in high-voltage chases and were crucial in getting India to the silverware.
Yet, the narratives that followed told a different story. His semifinal knock was dwarfed by Virat Kohli’s 84, and his match-winning 34 in the searing pressure of the final was overshadowed by Rohit Sharma’s 76. Rahul stood firm at the finish on both occasions, ensuring India didn’t stumble at the last step, but the spotlight moved elsewhere.
The backlash to a moment of truth
Rahul’s relationship with public perception has often been unforgiving. During the ODI World Cup 2023 group-stage game against Australia in Chennai, he found himself on 91* with only five runs left in India's target of 200.
With India assured of victory, he tried to reach the three-figure mark by going for a boundary and then a six in the 42nd over. However, he ended up timing it better than he desired as his chip over the covers cleared the ropes, sealing victory for India but leaving him stranded on 97*.
In the post-match presentation, he openly admitted that he wanted the hundred. It was a rare, human moment: a top-level athlete acknowledging his desire to seek a personal milestone within a team win, but instead of empathy, he was ridiculed. Trolls accused him of playing for himself, of prioritising numbers over the result, even though India had already won, and his innings had been central to the win.
The downside of playing in the era of generational talents
Just like Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, and Virender Sehwag, among others, were often compared to Sachin Tendulkar as they played in the same era as the Master Blaster, Rahul’s career has unfolded in the shadows of Rohit and Virat.
Any player sharing the dressing room with them is inevitably measured against their records.
Rahul, as a result, is often unfairly compared to them. His stats are judged on a scale set by generational outliers. What gets lost in that comparison is the reality that he is not Rohit. He is not Virat. He is someone whose value lies not in impersonating them, but in complementing them.
The reason Samson and Pant often watch from the dugout
One of the clearest testaments to Rahul’s calibre is the kind of players he keeps out of the XI in the ODI format. He has been so effective as a wicketkeeper-batter that it has become difficult to fit in exceptionally talented players like Sanju Samson and Rishabh Pant at the same time.
This is not a reflection of their shortcomings, but rather underlines Rahul's class as a wicketkeeper batter and that India cannot afford to look beyond him.
Frees up a spot as a wicketkeeper-batter
Rahul’s versatility as a wicketkeeper-batter unlocks flexibility for the entire team. By taking the gloves in ODIs, he allows the team management to play an extra batter, bowler, or allrounder, depending on conditions and the adversaries.
That tactical freedom is crucial in modern cricket. It means India can lengthen their batting, strengthen their bowling, or add a utility player without sacrificing stability in the middle order. Rahul becomes the hinge around which the team’s balance turns.
When pressure peaks, his record holds firm
Across ICC events and Asia Cups, Rahul has repeatedly proven his mettle. Whether rebuilding after early wickets, guiding tense chases, or absorbing pressure in knockouts, Rahul’s numbers in multi-nation events reflect a player who understands the weight of the moment.
KL Rahul's ODI career
| Matches | Inns | NO | Runs | Highest | Average | Strike rate | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 93 | 85 | 20 | 3359 | 112* | 51.67 | 90.56 | 8 | 20 |
KL Rahul's record in ICC events and Asia Cups (ODI)
| Tournament | Matches | Inns | NO | Runs | Highest | Average | Strike rate | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Cup | 20 | 19 | 5 | 813 | 111 | 58.07 | 84.33 | 2 | 4 |
| Asia Cup (ODI) | 5 | 4 | 1 | 229 | 111* | 76.33 | 89.80 | 1 | 1 |
| Champions Trophy | 5 | 4 | 3 | 140 | 42* | 140.00 | 97.90 | 0 | 0 |
KL Rahul's record as a wicketkeeper-batter in ODIs
| Matches | Inns | NO | Runs | Highest | Average | Strike rate | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53 | 47 | 15 | 1894 | 112* | 59.18 | 96.58 | 3 | 12 |
KL Rahul’s career is not defined by a lack of moments, but by a lack of recognition for those moments. He has adapted to roles that others might resist, and given India balance when they needed it most.
In a cricketing era obsessed with noise, Kannaur Lokesh Rahul is the team's quiet centre, and that is precisely why he is India’s unsung hero.
