RP Singh, the former India pacer recently pointed out that the stand-in skipper for South Africa’s T20I series, KL Rahul is a technically sound batter who knows how to pace his innings in the shortest format- T20 cricket. RP Singh mentioned how the batter is aware of the game situation and will accelerate accordingly.
RP Singh suggested that if KL Rahul doesn’t get dismissed after a run-a-ball knock, he will go on to up the ante in the latter stages of the game. He believes that this is what makes him different from Manish Pandey, who tends to throw his wicket away after getting set.
RP Singh: KL Rahul Is Technically Very Sound And Has Game Awareness
KL Rahul was ruled out of both the recent series against West Indies (T20Is) and Sri Lanka (T20Is and Tests) due to an injury. KL Rahul had sustained an upper left hamstring strain during the 2nd ODI in the West Indies series. KL Rahul had scored 1831 runs in 56 T20Is averaging 40.68 with 2 tons.
RP Singh said: “KL Rahul is technically very sound. He has game-awareness as he picks the bowlers against whom he can take chances on a given day. If he gets out for a run-a-ball 25, we’d say that he played like Manish Pandey does. But he ticks all the boxes because he protects his wicket and knows when to accelerate.”
In the same video, Parthiv Patel also stated that KL Rahul is the type of batter who can go on to score big runs despite starting slow. He opined that the 30-year-old is a good reader of the game and it positively impacts his performance as a batter.
He explained: “KL Rahul is the only player who can score a century in 20 overs despite starting slowly. If you are able to score 100 runs off 60 balls, it means that you’ve read the game well and know how to pace your innings.”
KL Rahul will next be seen in action in the upcoming five-match home T20I series against South Africa, scheduled to begin on June 9. He has been named captain for the white-ball assignment in the absence of full-time skipper Rohit Sharma, who is the leading T20I run-getter. Virat Kohli has also been rested for the series starting June 9.
Parthiv Patel: KL Rahul Plays Pure Cricketing Shots
Parthiv Patel added that KL Rahul doesn’t rely too much on unorthodox strokes. He highlighted that the right-hander prefers to play proper cricketing shots even in the shortest format of the game. The former wicketkeeper reckoned that the player has a strong defensive technique and his attacking shots are also an extension of the same.
Parthiv Patel stated: “You won’t see KL Rahul hit unorthodox shots that often. He plays pure cricketing shots and it’s all an extension of his defense. From his defense to his drive and its extension over the covers.”
It is worth mentioning that KL Rahul showcased stunning form with the bat in the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL 2022). He mustered 616 runs from 16 games and finished as the highest run-getter for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in this year’s cash-rich league.
KL Rahul has been Mr. Consistent of IPL in the last couple of seasons, scoring over 500 runs in each of the last four editions. The right-handed batsman was picked as a draft player for the new IPL 2022 entrant Lucknow. Last season, he was part of Punjab Kings. The former Punjab Kings captain notably finished with the Orange Cap in the 2020 edition, hammering 670 runs in 14 games at 55.83.