KL Rahul, who turned out for Delhi Capitals in the latest IPL season, amassed 539 runs in 13 innings, including a century and three half-centuries. Yet, the selectors opted to move in a different direction, signaling a clear shift in the team’s T20 blueprint
KL Rahul (Pic: PTI)
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced its 15-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, and while several fresh faces were rewarded for consistent performances, a few notable exclusions raised eyebrows. Among them was veteran batter KL Rahul, who, despite a productive IPL 2025 campaign, failed to find a place in the T20I squad.
Rahul, who turned out for Delhi Capitals in the latest IPL season, amassed 539 runs in 13 innings, including a century and three half-centuries. Yet, the selectors opted to move in a different direction, signaling a clear shift in the team’s T20 blueprint.
So, why did the selectors overlook a player with Rahul’s experience and recent form?
To begin with, the 33-year-old opener has been largely absent from India’s T20I setup since the 2022 T20 World Cup, his last major appearance in the format. That tournament, however, did little to strengthen his case for retention. Rahul managed just 128 runs in six matches at a strike rate of 120.75, often drawing criticism for his cautious starts that stalled India’s momentum during powerplays.
Rahul’s conservative approach has long been a concern in T20 cricket. During the India-New Zealand series in 2021, he scored 80 runs across two innings but at a modest strike rate of 126.98. The trend continued during the 2022 Asia Cup, where he tallied 132 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 122.22. In an era of aggressive, high-tempo batting, such numbers are increasingly viewed as inadequate, especially for a top-order batter.
In contrast, India’s T20I squad now boasts a younger, more explosive core. The likes of Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, and Abhishek Sharma have emerged as dynamic top-order options, blending consistency with strike rate, which is a crucial metric in modern T20s.
Additionally, Jitesh Sharma has solidified his place as a flexible wicketkeeper-batter, offering both middle-order stability and finishing prowess. With such depth and versatility in the batting department, the selectors appear to have doubled down on youth and aggressive intent.
BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar emphasized that the final XI will be determined based on team balance and tactical needs, but Rahul’s omission seems less about numbers and more about a philosophical shift in India’s T20 approach.
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