KL Rahul's India T20I return hinges on major fix, claims Ex-India star

Former India cricketer Dodda Ganesh backed KL Rahul to make a comeback into India's T20I team. Rahul is currently out of India's T20 plans but is a crucial part of the Test and the ODI teams.

The 32-year-old played his last T20I in the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final against England, which India lost badly by 10 wickets to bow out of the tournament. After that defeat, India decided to change their approach by being more aggressive in their strokeplay.

Thus, the selectors decided not to consider the senior Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul for the T20I format. But Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli made a comeback in the T20I squad earlier this year and were ultimately selected for the T20 World Cup.

But Rahul's approach in T20Is never impressed the selectors. Rahul's approach in this year's IPL wasn't great as well, which means he remained out of India's T20I plans.

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Dodda Ganesh backs KL Rahul to make a comeback into India's T20I team

Former India and Karnataka pacer Dodda Ganesh feels that KL Rahul can still make a comeback into India's T20I team. Ganesh also mentioned that Rahul needs to change his approach for the T20 format in order to be back amongst India's plans in T20Is.

"If KL Rahul rectifies his approach in the T20s he can still make a comeback and have a great stint with the Indian team in the T20Is. He is too good a talent to be missing out for long," Dodda Ganesh posted on X (formerly Twitter).

If KL Rahul rectifies his approach in the T20s he can still make a comeback and have a great stint with the Indian team in the T20Is. He is too good a talent to be missing out for long #DoddaMathu #SLvIND

— Dodda Ganesh | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (@doddaganesha) August 1, 2024

KL Rahul's deteriorating strike rate in T20 cricket

KL Rahul has been highly criticized for his slow batting approach in the T20 format. Even in the IPL, his slow batting has been questioned several times. There have been a no. of occasions when Rahul's low strike rates have even cost his team the match.

In the earlier part of his career, Rahul used to be a swashbuckling batter who used to score runs freely at the top. He still holds the record for the second-fastest fifty in IPL, which he scored off just 14 balls for Kings XI Punjab against Delhi Capitals in IPL 2018.

But his approach kept changing with time and now, he plays the role of an anchor. In modern-day T20 cricket, the Indian selectors are looking for someone who can play more aggressive cricket and KL Rahul certainly doesn't seem to fulfill those expectations.

However, Rahul is still an integral part of India's Test and ODI teams. He is in the ODI squad for the Sri Lanka tour where he will fight it out for the wicketkeeper's spot with Rishabh Pant.