Watch: KL Rahul Mocked By Virat Kohli And Other Indian Team Members On Live TV
Published - 11 Mar 2025, 02:27 PM | Updated - 11 Mar 2025, 02:34 PM
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India’s wicket-keeper batter, KL Rahul, has finally turned the tables from the criticized 66-run knock in 107 balls against Australia that cost the national side many runs in the first innings. From thereon, he stood tall during the winning moment of the side in the recently concluded Champions Trophy 2025.
The last few years were not smooth for the Bengaluru-born, who got dropped from the T20I side and also found it hard to go through the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). He wasn’t part of India’s T20 World Cup 2024 winning squad in the West Indies and the United States of America (USA).
Watch: Virat Kohli makes fun of KL Rahul’s padded-up situation in Champions Trophy presentation
After India’s victory in the Champions Trophy 2025 final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, all of the players line up for receiving the white-coat. But he mistakenly went on to the podium with the pads on his knees. That made the teammates burst into laughter.
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KL Raul smiled at the entire incident and quickly removed the pads after coming down from the podium. Virat Kohli enjoyed the moment most as he indicated the batter to all the other teammates.
KL Rahul’s successful Champions Trophy 2025 campaign
The Bengaluru-born was in a decent form coming into the eight-team tournament after a successful home series against England with a clean sweep series victory by a 3-0 margin. Rahul started the campaign with a fine knock of 41 runs in 47 deliveries at a strike rate of 87.23, thanks to one boundary and two sixes against Bangladesh in Dubai.
At 144/4 when Axar Patel got out, things could have been stiff for the Blue Brigade in the 229-run chase, but Rahul ensured no issues in the middle over of the side. Virat Kohli’s fine century and the management's decision to promote Hardik Pandya at five means KL Rahul didn’t get to bat against Pakistan in the second fixture.
Against New Zealand, when the entire top order failed in the group stage, Rahul creamed 23 runs in 29 balls. But his biggest contribution in the tournament came in the semifinal against Australia when he blasted an unbeaten 42 runs in 34 deliveries at a strike rate of 123.53, thanks to two boundaries and two sixes.
Australia smelt a slight chance of victory when Virat Kohli was dismissed at 225/5 in the 43rd over in the 265-run chase. But KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya’s 34-run stand in 31 balls made sure they went over the line with four wickets in hand.
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In the final against the Blackcaps, he managed an unbeaten 34 runs in 33 balls before Ravindra Jadeja pulled the short ball into the square region for a boundary to carry them over the line. He finished the tournament with 140 runs in three innings at a strike rate of 102.79, thanks to the best score of unbeaten 42 runs.
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KL Rahul aims to develop new relations with Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025
The Delhi Capitals is yet to announce their leader for the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). They are likely to make the official announcement soon, with KL Rahul and Axar Patel being the two likely contenders for leadership.
Rahul had a wonderful season in the previous season of the IPL as he clubbed more than 500 runs at a strike rate of over 130 for the Lucknow Super Giants. But he hopes to shoulder the huge responsibility by coming into the shoes of Rishabh Pant, with whom he exchanged bases for the new edition.
