KL Rahul namedrops MS Dhoni as he announces his RETIREMENT plans
Published - 26 Aug 2024, 06:30 PM | Updated - 27 Aug 2024, 11:13 AM
Indian batter KL Rahul has for the first time spoken about his retirement plans from international cricket. Rahul has been playing international cricket for India for a decade now and has been a star performer across formats.
However, injuries and lack of form have played their part in limiting Rahul's career in terms of consistency and progression.
His potential is never a question but he seems to get out of form quickly. Rahul played the 2019 ODI World Cup followed by the T20 World Cups in 2021 and 2022. He was not included in the T20 World Cup 2024 a tournament that India won recently.
More recently, Rahul has been seen as a number-five batter in ODI cricket. In Test cricket too he bats normally in the top five. He had achieved most of his runs as an opener in the format.
Meanwhile, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper admitted that the realization that his cricket career would soon end hit him on his 30th birthday. The 32-year-old confessed that he can see that not long is left before he will retire from the sport.
"There is no insecurity, but there is a feeling that all this ends, and for me it ends very quickly. If you are fit enough, you can play till 40. That is the maximum someone has played. Yes, there is MS Dhoni, who is 43 and is still playing. You can play the IPL and all of that, but not at the international level for too long.
"There is a fear and realisation that shell life is really small for an athlete, and you need to make the most of it within whatever time you have," said Rahul on a podcast on Nikhil Kamath's Youtube channel also featuring Kriti Sanon and Badshah.
I Have 10 More Years To Play Cricket: KL Rahul
KL Rahul further said that he first thought about his retirement after turning 30 as he started to look at his career differently.
"For me, the anxiety was when I hit 30. I could see the end of the tunnel. Till I was 29, I could not see that. Some weird thing happened on my 30th birthday. I could see I have 10 more years to play cricket, and that gave me anxiety, and that is the first time I felt like 'This comes to an end at some point.' All I have done all my life is 'Cricket, Cricket, Cricket,' without imagining this comes to an end. Now I can see it. It is not too far away," KL Rahul added.
He further spoke about having a fear that his revenue will decrease considerably after he retires from the game. KL Rahul also spoke about starting a business or having other venture ideas after he is done with the game.
"I don't know. That is part of the reason I have started thinking about businesses and investing my money right. So that my life after cricket is taken care of. I know there will be a huge dip in the amount I earn after I retire.
"COVID for me happened at the right time where it gave me time to sit and research how I can invest my money. You generally lean on your family to guide you when you start earning, but I did not have that.
"All this is new for my father too. I met some good people. I have some good friends who gave my guidance. I am trying to set up a few things before I retire so that when I retire that transition from an athlete to doing something in business will be smooth and make me happier than not knowing what to do," KL Rahul further revealed.
KL Rahul last played for India in the ODI series against Sri Lanka. He is expected to be included in India's home series against Bangladesh and New Zealand. There is also an Australia tour that follows immediately and KL Rahul would want to be a part of that tour as well.
Also Read: Watch: Dinesh Karthik advises KL Rahul to open clothing shop, Rohit Sharma a sneaker store
