Ok.L. Rahul is greatest positioned to bat at quantity four and keep wickets for India in subsequent 12 months’s Twenty20 (T20) World Cup, believes Delhi Capitals mentor Kevin Pietersen.
With his intent in the shortest format being questioned in the previous, Rahul has tweaked his strategy to be the main run-getter for Delhi Capitals’ this season.
The competitors for the wicket-keeper-batter’s slot in the nationwide crew is stiff with Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Dhruv Jurel and Ishan Kishan being the opposite choices for the selectors.
Rahul has not been part of India’s T20 setup because the 2022 World Cup however Pietersen reckons he has carried out sufficient to warrant a comeback, and is greatest suited for the wicket-keeper-batter’s function.
“I’d bat K. L. at four for India in T20 cricket. I think you guys have got plenty of opening batters.
“But the best way Ok. L. Rahul is taking part in cricket now, he could be my first option to bat at four, and keep wickets for India,” said Pietersen in response to a PTI query after DC’s loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Sunday night.
At the start of the season, Rahul himself had talked about his renewed approach towards the T20 format.
Besides the stellar show in Indian Premiere League (IPL), it was Rahul’s recent performances for India in One Day International (ODI) cricket that left a huge impression on Pietersen, one of the best batters to have played for England.
“Ok. L. has been taking part in in a really constructive method since…mid to late final 12 months. We noticed how he completed off a few the video games for India and nearly sealed the deal in the Champions Trophy in Dubai.
“I’ve had a lot of incredibly brilliant conversations with him about batting, a lot of deep and meaningful conversations because when you grow up as a youngster like he did, you get taught defence, elbow up, play in the V,” he defined.
The big-hitter mentioned it’s not simple to vary that strategy after hitting the thirties.
“…you’ve got to change it and you’ve got to become a different kind of player for a different format which is evolving all the time.
“It’s very, very troublesome. So the best way that he has accepted that he is wanted to vary, the best way that he has modified is of nice, nice credit score to the person who he’s,” said Pietersen.
The next T20 World Cup will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Fine with tough batting surfaces in T20s
Scores in the range of 250 were a common occurrence last IPL but the slower nature of pitches has made batting tougher this season. Pietersen has no issues with that.
“On wickets like these [the one at Feroz Shah Kotla], you have to be methodical, you have to discover rhythm. Virat [Kohli] discovered rhythm this night. Ok. L. obtained rhythm,” he said.
“And I believe that is the place you see the true batter. The actual batter that may come on the market, and type of monitor the scenario, and it seems easy…is it good for T20 cricket to have the occasional wicket like this? I do not assume it is a dangerous factor,” he added.
Pietersen was not in favour of bowlers “simply being served up into the stands each single ball”.
“…I do not assume each evening individuals wish to see that. I do not actually wish to see it each evening,” Pietersen said.
Foundations can be laid in IPL
He has played in the IPL and more recently been a part of the commentary panel. This season, he is back in the dugout as a member of Delhi Capitals’ support staff. The 44-year-old spoke about his role in the team.
“I at all times knew that after I was taking part in franchise cricket, that no explicit coach might change you over that four to 6 week interval, or eight week interval,” he conceded.
However, he cited his interactions with Abhishek Porel to stress that changes introduced during the tournament can become permanent if persisted with over a period of time.
“…final evening I used to be engaged on one thing. We’re 5 weeks into the match, we have solely obtained three or four weeks left of the match. And I mentioned to him, I mentioned, ‘Abhi, this isn’t going to work for you tomorrow.’ It won’t work for you the subsequent week. But if you happen to keep engaged on it, in the subsequent month, two months, three months, four months, I promise you that is going to assist your sport. And it will take you to a stage the place you are going to turn into a extra harmful batter.
“So I think that’s the key. Trying to lay foundations now, and then also just mentally, trying to switch a few players on, and make them think better,” he added.
Published – April 28, 2025 12:59 pm IST
