Veteran Indian wicketkeeper batter KL Rahul admitted that retirement is something he has thought about, though he feels that moment is still some distance away. The 33-year-old made it clear that when the time does come, he won’t try to hold on, stressing that there is a full life waiting beyond the game.
KL Rahul on retirement
Rahul spoke candidly on the subject during a conversation with former England captain Kevin Pietersen on Pietersen’s YouTube channel. He said that being truthful with himself would make the decision straightforward, adding that his mindset has changed as he has grown older.
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“I’ve thought about it,” Rahul said. “I don’t think it will be very hard. If you’re honest with yourself, you know when it’s time. There’s no point dragging it. I feel I’m still some time away from that stage.”
He added that stepping away from cricket would simply mean enjoying what really matters.
“You just stop, enjoy what you have, be with your family. That’s the toughest part accepting that you’re not that important. Cricket in India will go on. Cricket around the world will go on. There are far more important things in life.”
KL Rahul on how he changed after becoming father
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Rahul also shared how fatherhood has reshaped his outlook. “Ever since my first baby, the way I see life has completely changed,” he said.
KL Rahul on injuries
The right-handed batter also opened up about the emotional strain of repeated injuries, admitting that those phases took a bigger toll on his mind than on his body.
“I’ve been injured so many times,” Rahul said. “That’s the hardest battle. It’s mental. When it keeps happening, your mind starts telling you that you’ve done enough and that you can live without cricket.”
KL Rahul's last international outing came in the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, 142 runs in three matches, including an unbeaten century in the second clash but the BlackCaps defeated India 2-1.