India's wicketkeeper-batter in ODIs, KL Rahul has had a rollercoaster ride in the 50-over format. From opening to fitting into middle-order roles as per team's demand, Rahul has proved to be worthy and even picked ahead of Rishabh Pant in ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Rahul was given the role by former India coach Rahul Dravid to solve the middle-order woes and he passed with flying colours. During a recent interview, Rahul recalled a time when he scored a century against Pakistan in Asia Cup 2023 after missing second half of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. While the century impressed many, Dravid was not pleased with the celebration as the batter turned his back on the dressing room.
"I'll tell you a story. So this was right after my injury. I was not supposed to play this game either. Shreyas Iyer was supposed to play, but he got a back spasm, and I ended up playing this game. For those four months, that I was out, through that hard phase, every morning I woke up and said the same thing, 'I'll be the best player in the world'," KL Rahul said on the ‘2 Sloggers' Podcast.
“I motivated myself. The dressing room was on this side, I turned my back to the dressing room and then this celebration. Rahul Dravid, the coach, got a little upset. 'Why did you turn your back on the dressing room?' I said, 'No sir, I meant no disrespect'. In the four to five months that I was out, I had a dream that there was a statue of me with me celebrating like that,” he added.
Rahul also recalled Dravid's reaction when he heard about the 'statue' dream. The former India captain did not mince his words.
"He said, 'Statue tera? Mera nahi bana, tera statue? (I don't have a statue, but you have?)" This is why this is very special to me," said Rahul.
Rahul-Kohli’s big partnership
Replacing Shreyas Iyer in the side, Rahul remained unbeaten for 111 off 106 deliveries. On the reserve day of the Asia Cup 2023 clash in Colombo, he shared an unbeaten 233-run partnership for the third wicket with Virat Kohli. The top-order batter had scored 122 runs from 94 balls. The partnership helped India post 356/2. Pakistan batting lineup crumbled under pressure. The Babar Azam-led side was bowled out for 128 as Kuldeep Yadav registered a five-wicket haul. India won the match by 228 runs.
Rahul’s next appearance
Rahul recently played in the three-ODI series against Australia. Walking out to bat at no.6 as Axar Patel was promoted up the order, he registered scores of 38 and 11. He will be seen in action in the three-ODI series against South Africa at home starting on November 30.