Senior Indian cricketer KL Rahul has expressed his desire to return to India’s T20 squad before the 2026 World Cup, which will host India. The 33 -year -old batsman, who last played T20 International for India in the 2022 World Cup semi -finals against England, believes that his time away from the format has helped him re -assure his white ball game.Rahul recently completed his IPL 2025 season with Delhi Capital, scoring 539 runs in 13 matches at a strike rate of 139, marking more than 500 runs in six years. Despite not qualifying for the playoffs, his performance demonstrated his continuous batting form.Rahul told Sky Sports, “Yes, I want to come back to the T20 team and the World Cup is in my mind, but now it is just trying to enjoy how I am playing right now.”The experienced batsman accepted the development of T20 cricket and needed to be compatible with the changing speed of the game.
“I had some time to think about my white ball game clearly, I was quite happy with my performance and where I was. But (there) probably (there) was a time 15 months ago or 12 months ago where I realized that the game is moving a little or it is moving a little or it is changing and it is very fast.”Rahul highlighted the importance of border-touching in the success of modern cricket.“… that it is more about the team that hits more limitations, winning the game more often than the team, I cannot say that it is playing smart, but the team that does not hit many boundaries, is always finding himself in favor of losing.”The break of T20 International has given Rahul time for self-reflection and improvement.“So this is the place where white-ball cricket is getting and I have not been part of the T20 team in the last few years. I have been given some time to think about my T20 game. ,Quiz: Who is that IPL player?“So, overall, just sitting and wondering where I could be better, where the game is gone and what I need to do to catch with the game and what I can do to perform and get back in the T20 team, I can do what I can do to be an important player for my team in White-Ball cricket and my team in T20 …”Rahul has maintained his position in India’s ODI team, which has contributed significantly to the victory of India’s recent Champions Trophy, with 140 runs in five matches at a strike rate of 97.90.During his career spread over a decade, Rahul has adapted for various batting positions in both Odis and Tests.
“If you have noticed how my career has gone, I don’t think I had really an option, or I have never been a player to speak with the selectors and sit with the captain and to tell the captain that this is what I want to do,” he reflected on the flexibility of his career.Rahul said, “I just want to be in the team and whatever challenge is thrown on me, I have found that it is better for me that I am trying to sit and think about thinking what I need to do,” Rahul said.Regarding India’s recent trial demonstrations, Rahul addressed the team’s struggle against New Zealand and the Seema Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.Rahul said, “The last couple of the test series should have batted better. Losing three tests at home. New Zealand found us a way to keep us calm, did not give us easy boundaries. We really had to work hard for the run and we played some bad shots,” said Rahul.
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He analyzed the team’s performance against New Zealand and Australia.“The wicket was a bit for the spinners, but they found a way to pressurize. If we batted better, we would be in a better place against New Zealand. And then somehow we carried forward the habit of not being able to win important moments in the game and made the same mistakes in Australia.”India, currently the T20 Champion, will co-condemn the upcoming World Cup with Sri Lanka earlier next year.
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