KL Rahul responds to critics after Champions Trophy semis, says “I have performed my role”

Champions Trophy: KL Rahul came into bat at No.6 again, where Team India were in a tight spot at 178/4, and went on to score 42.

Somehow, the contributions and performances of KL Rahul go unnoticed. Whenever the need arises, he is up and ready to take one for the team. That is what happened just before the Champions Trophy 2025, where during the England ODIs he was demoted to No. 6, after enjoying a rather successful stint at No. 5. For the record, in 31 innings at the position, he has scored 1299 runs at an average of over 56.

KL Rahul – The Crisis Man

He lost his place to Axar Patel, who too has been brilliant in whatever challenges he has been thrown at. But then KL Rahul’s excellent, unbeaten 42 against Australia in the Champions Trophy semis, is a testimony to his adaptability. Earlier, he had scored 41 not out against Bangladesh too.

Opening up on his constantly changing batting position, Rahul admitted that he likes batting at the top of the order, but is fine taking any role, as per the demands of the team. “Yeah, I do [enjoy batting at the top], I mean I won’t lie,” Rahul told Star Sports. “It’s after opening the batting in Australia in Test matches and having to face that attack in Australia and you know how red-ball [cricket] is much harder. I opened the batting there and then to come here and bat low seems a bit different, but this is how I’ve played white-ball cricket in the last four-five years.

“Quite Used to” Changing Batting Order

“So, I’m quite used to going up and down the order so I’m just happy getting a chance to play in the middle and whatever role is given, I think it’s really helped me understand my game a lot more and I’ve had to work on boundary hitting a lot more in the last year or so because the last ODI we played in Sri Lanka I batted at No. 6, so I knew that’s where I’ll be batting and [we] needed a left-hander in the top order.”

Time and again there have been questions raised, if Rahul would fit in the scheme of things in the ODI side, and every time he has proved his critics wrong. He also opened up on how skipper Rohit Sharma has been supporting him. “Honestly, I mean it’s since I think 2020 I’ve batted at No.5 and a lot of times people forget that that’s where I’ve been batting,” Rahul said.

Rohit Sharma Satisfied with Keeper-Batter

“And every time I perform in a series and then there’s a break from ODI series, ODI cricket and then we come back after four or five months there’s a question mark again about ‘oh well will he play in the XI, where does he fit’ and sometimes I’m sitting there thinking what more can I do. Everywhere that I’ve been asked to play I’ve played and I feel like I have performed my role. Whatever’s been told to me by Rohit [Sharma], Rohit’s been the captain for the last four-five years.

“And whatever he’s told me I feel like I’ve done that to the best of my ability. And I know that Rohit feels the same and he’s always supported me and backed me with that. So, there’s that confidence going into game that the captain has my back.”