KL Rahul eyes return to T20I squad, says World Cup is on his mind

India’s flamboyant batter KL Rahul is eyeing his return to the T20I squad and said the T20 World Cup is on his mind. Rahul was not part of India’s T20 World Cup winning campaign in the West Indies in 2024 but he played a key role in India’s successful Champions Trophy run in 2025.

Rahul scored 140 runs in four innings of the eight-team tournament at an impressive average of 140. Meanwhile, the right-hander scored 539 runs in 13 matches of IPL 2025 at an average of 53.90 and a strike rate of 149.72 while playing for Delhi Capitals.

“Yes, I want to get back in the T20 team and the World Cup is in my mind, but for now it’s just trying to enjoy how I’m playing right now,” Rahul said on Sky Sports.

Rahul said he has always wanted to play according to the team’s demands and he is always happy to do anything for the team’s cause.

“If you have seen how my career has gone, I don’t think I really had a choice, or I have never been a player to speak with the selectors and sit with the captain and tell the captain that this is what I want to do. I just want to be in the team and whatever challenge is thrown at me, I have found that’s better for me to adapt to rather than me trying to sit and think about what I need to do,” Rahul said.

The Karnataka batter has batted at different positions throughout his career, especially in the white-ball formats.

“When the role is given to me and the coaches and the captain and the selectors tell me that look this is what we are expecting for you, maybe No.5, maybe No. 6, open the batting. Yeah, that sort of gives me clarity and then I work around my game,” Rahul said.

Rahul is expected to open the innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal on the England tour, and he is going to hold the key at the top of the order.