Challenges Faced by KL Rahul: Obstacles and Turning Points

Life is full of challenges, and KL Rahul faced many. Discover key struggles and how they were overcome.

Kannaur Lokesh Rahul, commonly known as KL Rahul, is an Indian international cricketer. A right-handed batter and occasional wicket-keeper, he represents India in all formats of the game. In domestic cricket, he plays for Karnataka, and in the Indian Premier League (IPL), he represents Delhi Capitals. He is known for his elegant batting style and versatility across different batting positions.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1997: First Bilateral Loss Against Sri Lanka Since 1997

In 1997, India suffered its first bilateral series loss against Sri Lanka since 1997, losing the series 2-0. KL Rahul made his comeback to the ODI team, scoring 31 and 0 in the first two ODIs and was dropped from the final ODI.

June 2015: Withdrawal from Bangladesh Tour Due to Dengue

In June 2015, Rahul was named in the squad for the Indian tour of Bangladesh but withdrew due to dengue.

September 2016: Injury During Home Series Against New Zealand

In September 2016, Rahul was named in the squad for the home series against New Zealand but was later replaced by Gautam Gambhir due to an injury after the first test.

2016: Selected for England Test Series

In 2016, Rahul was selected for the Test series against England but was injured during training and ruled out of the third test. He made his comeback in the fourth test but failed to make an impact, later scoring his career-best 199 runs in the fifth test.

2017: Missed Season Due to Injury

In 2017, KL Rahul missed the IPL season due to a shoulder injury.

January 2019: Suspension by BCCI

In January 2019, Hardik Pandya and Rahul were suspended by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) following misogynistic comments they made on the Indian talk show Koffee with Karan. Later in January 2019, his suspension was lifted and he rejoined the squad.

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February 2021: Missed Test Series Against England

In February 2021, Rahul missed the home Test series against England. He returned for the T20I and ODI series, regaining form in the ODI series with a match-winning 62* and a century partnership with Krunal Pandya.

February 2022: 6000 Runs in International Cricket

In February 2022, Rahul completed 6000 runs in international cricket across all formats during the second ODI against the West Indies. In the same ODI, Rahul sustained an upper left hamstring strain and was ruled out of the next ODI as well as the upcoming T20Is series against the West Indies.

February 2023: Removed from Test Vice-Captaincy

In February 2023, due to poor form, Rahul was removed from the Test vice-captaincy.

December 2023: Test Match Century Against South Africa

In December 2023, during the first test match against South Africa, KL Rahul scored his 8th test match century, helping India post 245 runs in the first innings. He scored 101 runs, but India lost the match by an innings and 32 runs.

2023: Ruled Out of IPL Season Due to Injury

During the 2023 season, KL Rahul was retained as the captain for Lucknow Super Giants but was ruled out of the tournament midway after sustaining an injury while fielding in a match against RCB.

2023: World Cup 2023 Campaign

In 2023, KL Rahul had a mixed performance during the World Cup. He scored an unbeaten 97 against Australia. Against the Netherlands, he made the fastest century by an Indian batter in a World Cup, reaching the milestone in 62 deliveries. In the final against Australia, Rahul top scored with 66 runs, but India lost the match.

2023: Test Series Against England

In 2023, KL Rahul scored 86 and 22 runs in the first test match of England's tour of India. However, he missed the rest of the series due to an injury.

September 2024: Test Series Against Bangladesh

In September 2024, KL Rahul was named in the squad for the 2-match Test series against Bangladesh. Rahul scored a quick-fire 68 off 62 deliveries in the second test to help India secure a victory. He was then named in the Test squad against New Zealand, but after scores of 0 and 12 in the first test, he was dropped from the starting 11 for the remaining series.

2024: Axed from T20 World Cup Squad

In 2024, KL Rahul was axed from the T20 World Cup squad.

2024: 2024 IPL Season and Public Criticism

In the 2024 IPL season, KL Rahul scored 520 runs with 4 half-centuries but could not lead his team to the play-offs. He was publicly criticised by the owner of Lucknow Super Giants after a loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad where SRH chased a target of 166 in just 9.4 overs.