Senior Indian cricketer KL Rahul has expressed his desire to return to India’s T20 squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which India will host. The 33-year-old batsman, who last played T20 internationals for India in the 2022 World Cup semifinal against England, believes his time away from the format has helped him reassess his white-ball game.Rahul recently completed his IPL 2025 season with Delhi Capitals, scoring 539 runs in 13 matches at a strike rate of 149.72, marking his fifth 500-plus run season in six years. Despite not qualifying for the playoffs, his performance demonstrated his consistent batting form.“Yes, I want to get back in the T20 team and the World Cup is on my mind, but for now it’s just trying to enjoy how I’m playing right now,” Rahul told Sky Sports.The veteran batsman acknowledged the evolution of T20 cricket and his need to adapt to the changing pace of the game.
“I obviously had some time to think about my white-ball game, I was quite happy with my performances and where I was. But (there) was a time probably 15 months ago or 12 months ago where I realised that the game is slightly getting ahead or it’s changing and becoming much more faster.”Rahul highlighted the importance of boundary-hitting in modern cricket’s success.“…that it’s become more about the team that hits more boundaries is winning the games more often than the team that’s, I can’t say playing smarter, but the team that doesn’t hit as many boundaries is always finding themselves on the losing side.”The break from T20 internationals has given Rahul time for self-reflection and improvement.“So that’s where white-ball cricket is getting and I haven’t been part of the T20 team in the last couple of years. That’s given me some time to think about my T20 game as well.”Quiz: Who’s that IPL player?“So, overall, just sitting and thinking about where I can get better, where the game’s gone and what I need to do to catch up with the game and what can I do to perform and get back in the T20 team, what can I do to become an important player for my team in ODI and T20 overall in white-ball cricket…”Rahul has maintained his position in India’s ODI team, contributing significantly to India’s recent Champions Trophy victory with 140 runs in five matches at a strike rate of 97.90.Throughout his career spanning over a decade, Rahul has adapted to various batting positions in both ODIs and Tests.
“If you have seen how my career has gone, I don’t think I really had a choice, or I have never been a player to speak with the selectors and sit with the captain and tell the captain that this is what I want to do,” he reflected on his career flexibility.“I just want to be in the team and whatever challenge is thrown at me, I have found that’s better for me to adapt to rather than me trying to sit and think about what I need to do,” Rahul said.Regarding India’s recent Test performances, Rahul addressed the team’s struggles in their home series against New Zealand and the Border Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.“Last couple of Test series we should have batted better. Losing three Tests at home in conditions that we know. New Zealand found a way of keeping us quiet, not giving us easy boundaries. We had to really work hard for runs and that built pressure and we played some bad shots,” said Rahul.
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He further analyzed the team’s performance against New Zealand and Australia.“The wicket had a bit for spinners but they found a way to put pressure. If we had batted better we’d be at a better place against New Zealand. And then somehow we carried the habit of not being able to win crucial moments in the game and did the same mistakes in Australia.”India, currently the T20 Champions, will co-host the upcoming World Cup with Sri Lanka early next year.
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