KL Rahul’s Candid Stance on Test Average Criticism: “Not That I Don’t See It”

Indian cricketer KL Rahul has openly discussed the ongoing conversations surrounding his Test batting average and the criticism he has faced in recent years. With 63 Test appearances for India, Rahul`s current batting average stands at 35.41. Many fans and cricket experts believe this figure doesn`t fully reflect his innate talent, frequently pointing out his inconsistency in capitalizing on opportunities. Over his career, Rahul has played in various batting positions; while he boasts impressive statistics in overseas Test matches, his performances in home conditions have been less impactful. Nevertheless, his period as an opener proved particularly successful, yielding 532 runs in 10 innings during a series against England.

Demonstrating excellent form, Rahul recently scored a magnificent century on the second day of the first Test match against West Indies in Ahmedabad.

Rahul clarified that although he is well aware of the criticism and statistics, he chooses not to let them affect him, instead focusing his energy on the game itself.

“I don`t let it bother me, but it`s not that I don`t see it. Obviously, I see it, and ideally, any batter would want their numbers to be as high as they can be. But right now, it`s more important for me to make sure my game plans are tight and that I am enjoying my cricket. Those are the boxes I want to tick more than thinking about numbers. There is enough sample size also for me to see that when I do these things well, automatically I start getting more runs, and the numbers will go higher as well.”

— KL Rahul on JioHotstar

He further elaborated on his philosophy, stating, “So it`s important to take it step by step and not go to step three first and forget the first two steps. But there are obviously expectations and pressure of numbers. And there is so much being spoken about it as cricket is a numbers game at the end of the day. But I try and focus on the simpler things that I can control as much as I can and then leave the rest up to God.” Rahul emphasized a methodical approach, acknowledging the inherent pressures of a numbers-driven sport like cricket, but preferring to concentrate on controllable aspects and trust in a higher power for the outcome.