Kevin Pietersen praised KL Rahul’s positive approach and backed him to bat at No. 4 for India in T20s.
England legend and Delhi Capitals mentor Kevin Pietersen has thrown his weight behind KL Rahul, suggesting that the wicketkeeper-batter should bat at number four for India in T20 cricket. Rahul has been in excellent form this season, scoring 364 runs from eight matches, including three half-centuries, in his first year with the franchise.
It has been more than two years since Rahul last played T20 international cricket for India, with his last appearance coming during the 2022 T20 World Cup semifinal defeat to England in Australia. Since then, Rahul has tweaked his batting approach in T20s, and the change has been evident in the ongoing IPL as he aims for an India comeback. However, the competition for the wicketkeeper’s slot has only grown tougher with Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, and Dhruv Jurel also in contention.
Looking ahead to the next T20 World Cup in 2026, Pietersen believes Rahul would be an ideal fit for the number four position. “I’d bat KL at four for India in T20 cricket. I think you guys have got plenty of opening batters. But the way KL Rahul is playing cricket now, he would be my first choice to bat at four and keep wickets for India. KL has been playing in a very positive manner since…mid to late last year. We saw how he finished off a couple of the games for India and almost sealed the deal in the Champions Trophy in Dubai.”
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Pietersen also praised Rahul for accepting the challenge of evolving his game to meet the demands of modern T20 cricket. “I’ve had a lot of incredibly brilliant conversations with him (Rahul) about batting, a lot of deep and meaningful conversations because when you grow up as a youngster like he did and you get taught defence, elbow up, play in the V and then all of a sudden in your thirties you’ve got to change it and you’ve got to become a different kind of player for a different format which is evolving all the time. It’s very, very difficult,” he said.
Highlighting Rahul’s determination, Pietersen added, “So the way that he has accepted that he’s needed to change, the way that he has changed is of great, great credit to the person that he is. He is so positive, the way that he practices, the way that he trains, the way he thinks about the game and also the way that he talks about the game. That’s KL.”
Rahul’s positive mindset and adaptability have not gone unnoticed, and with strong performances in the IPL, he has certainly put himself back in contention for India’s T20 squad.
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