In the dynamic world of cricket, KL Rahul journey has been nothing short of a rollercoaster, marked by setbacks and triumphant comebacks. Despite facing a challenging start to 2023, Rahul’s resilience and stellar performances have firmly placed him back in the spotlight.
The batsman encountered a rough patch, leading to his exclusion from the playing XI for the last two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. A subsequent injury during an IPL 2023 match further sidelined him for over four months. However, his triumphant return during the Asia Cup 2023 Super Fours against Pakistan, where he crafted an unbeaten century, marked the turning point in his fortunes.
KL Rahul leadership prowess shone as he guided India to a 2-1 ODI series victory over Australia and played a pivotal role in the ODI World Cup 2023, amassing over 500 runs.
His exemplary captaincy continued with a triumphant 2-1 series win against South Africa, making him the second Indian skipper, after Virat Kohli, to achieve an ODI series victory on South African soil.
As he gears up for the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa, KL Rahul versatility takes center stage as he embraces the role of a wicketkeeper-batsman.
KL Rahul IPL connection with RCB
Beyond the national team, KL Rahul IPL journey has been equally impactful. Leading Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), a franchise he joined for a whopping Rs 17 crore in the IPL 2022 mega auction, he has showcased leadership brilliance.
In a recent interview, the Bengaluru-born batter expressed his deep connection with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), a team that holds a special place in his heart. Reflecting on his cricketing roots, KL Rahul shared with SG Cricket, “RCB gave me the opportunity to showcase my talent when I was young. I am also from Bangalore, so I always dreamt of playing for RCB when the IPL started. I was lucky that I got to play for them for a few years, so RCB is very close to my heart.”
Rahul’s journey with RCB, spanning from 2013 to 2016, witnessed him playing 19 IPL matches and scoring 417 runs. His remarkable batting record against RCB, amassing 628 runs in 15 matches, attests to the special connection he shares with the team. Notably, his highest IPL score of 132* was achieved against RCB, cementing his place in IPL history. As Rahul continues to make strides in international and franchise cricket, his allegiance to RCB remains an integral part of his cricketing narrative.
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