KL Rahul undeterred with his ever changing batting order is on a mission to give his all to Team India in the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025. KL Rahul played a crucial knock in India's decision win over Australia in the Champions Trophy semifinal. His aggressive batting, particularly his partnership with Virat Kohli during a tense chase, came handy for India. Rahul's unbeaten 42 off 34 balls secured India's place in the Champions Trophy 2025 final which is slated to be played on March 9.
Following India's four-wicket win over Australia, former star cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu offered high praise for Rahul's performance. Sidhu talked about Rahul's adaptability and selfless approach, stressing on his ability to seamlessly adjust to various batting positions as required by the team. Over his career, Rahul has demonstrated his versatility, proving himself to be a multi-dimensional cricketer capable of fulfilling diverse roles within the batting lineup.
Navjot Singh Sidhu's critical take on KL Rahul's batting order
KL Rahul's versatility has been a defining characteristic of his career. He has consistently demonstrated his ability to excel in a variety of batting roles, whether it's opening the innings, stabilising the middle order, or finishing the game. His flexibility was particularly evident during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year, where he seamlessly transitioned between different batting positions, filling in as an opener, batting at number three, and even occupying the number five spot in a Test match. Rahul's performance in the Champions Trophy has been marked by consistency and a knack for finishing innings strongly. Notably, in two out of the three innings he has played, Rahul remained unbeaten in the 40s with a commendable strike rate of 96.36
Meanwhile, Navjot Singh Sidhu in a candid assessment, stated that Rahul has been treated worse than a 'spare tyre', implying that his talent and adaptability have been exploited without sufficient appreciation or strategic planning.
"KL Rahul, you see, even the spare tyre is not used as much. You play him as a wicketkeeper, as No. 6, as an opener, then when BGT comes you play him at No. 3. Then you tell him to open. I tell you one thing. Opening in ODIs is the easiest, but doing it in Tests is the toughest. He is a selfless player," Navjot Singh Sidhu said on Star Sports, as quoted by News18.
Rahul's versatility was showcased once again in the high-stakes semi-final against Australia. He played a composed and calculated innings, effectively maintaining India's composure during a tense run chase. After Virat Kohli's dismissal, Rahul seamlessly transitioned into the role of anchor, prioritising strike rotation. This enabled Hardik Pandya to adopt a more aggressive batting style, ultimately contributing to India's successful pursuit of the target.
As India prepare for the Champions Trophy final against New Zealand, Rahul's presence in the middle order will be a critical asset. The team will be relying on him to deliver a similar performance, should the situation demand it.