The India Cricket Team will take on Ireland in the opening game of the ICC T20 World Cup. But a question or rather a thought continues to linger. Has India missed the trick by not picking KL Rahul in the ICC T20 World Cup squad? While people might question his low strike rate, but KL Rahul could have been a good fit for the Men in Blue.
Why KL Rahul?
The ground conditions in USA and West Indies would perfectly suit a player of KL Rahul’s calibre. The Lucknow Super Giants skipper knows how to play effectively well in slow and turning pitches. The biggest example bring that of the Ekana Stadium.
The slowest pitch amongst all IPL teams, and KL has flourished batting at his home soil. Not all Indian batters are able to perfectly play in slow conditions. And this is where KL Rahul does his job effectively.
KL Rahul for LSG at Ekana Stadium in IPL 2023 and 2024
| Runs | Strike Rate |
| 8 | 66.67 |
| 35 | 112.9 |
| 74 | 132.14 |
| 68 | 111.48 |
| 0* | 0 |
| 15 | 166.67 |
| 33 | 106.45 |
| 39 | 177.27 |
| 82 | 154.72 |
| 76 | 158.33 |
| 28 | 127.27 |
| 25 | 119.05 |
Master of Slow Conditions
As and when required, KL Rahul has scored runs in a flurry. And even his strike rate is not a concern. In extremely slow conditions at the Ekana Stadium, KL Rahul has often managed to retain a strike rate of over 150+ on multiple situations.
And given how the pitches are behaving in USA and will do so in West Indies, KL would have been a perfect fit in the Indian Cricket Team. A versatile batter who can bat at any position from top to bottom, KL Rahul would have been a vital asset for the Men in Blue. It remains to be seen whether Team India missed the trick in not choosing him in the squad.
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