Former Australia legend Glenn McGrath has expressed sympathy for KL Rahul, highlighting how difficult it must be for the Indian batter to constantly adapt to different positions in the batting order.
Rahul’s career has often been defined by his willingness to be the team man—moving up and down the order whenever required. In the first ODI against Australia at Optus Stadium, Perth, Rahul was pushed down the order, with Axar Patel coming in ahead of him.
Despite that, Rahul played a crucial 38-run knock, helping India reach a fighting total in a rain-curtailed match. But the score proved insufficient as Australia comfortably chased down the target.
‘He’s Nearly Batted at All 11 Positions’ — McGrath
Speaking on the Fast Bowling Cartel YouTube channel, McGrath pointed out that Rahul has never really had a stable batting position, making his role more challenging than it appears.
“They’ve sort of moved him around. I think he’s nearly batted at all 11 positions at some stage. It must be tough for him to adapt,” McGrath said.
“But he’s one of those versatile players. He top-scored for India in fairly tough conditions.”
The former pacer also added that constantly shifting a batter can affect confidence, but praised Rahul for handling it with maturity.
“Sometimes that can mess with your confidence, but I think for him, maybe he’s just used to it and adapts. He keeps as well, so he’s a very versatile player,” he added.
Rahul’s Preferred Position: No. 5
Rahul’s most successful ODI position has been No. 5, where he has amassed 1,299 runs at an impressive average of 56.47, including two centuries and nine fifties.
However, under Gautam Gambhir’s coaching tenure, Rahul has often been moved down to No. 6 to maintain a left-right batting combination. This constant adjustment has added another layer of responsibility to his already flexible role.
Rahul’s Golden Run in 2025
Despite the constant reshuffling, Rahul has had a stellar 2025 season:
- Played a key role in India’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 win.
- Scored over 500 runs in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England as an opener.
- Registered a century against West Indies at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
- Ended the series with a match-winning fifty at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
His ability to perform in every situation has made him one of India’s most reliable and adaptable players.
A Team Player at Heart
KL Rahul’s journey has been marked by flexibility, consistency, and calmness under pressure. While constant role changes might unsettle many players, Rahul has embraced them, continuing to deliver whenever the team needs him.
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