Indian cricket team batter KL Rahul opened up about the intense scrutiny surrounding his Test batting average, currently resting at 35.41 after 63 matches. His comments came after he anchored the Indian innings with a brilliant century on Day 2 of the first Test against the West Indies at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday.
Despite being hailed as one of the most talented batters of his generation, Rahul has faced continuous criticism from fans and experts who argue that his statistics do not do justice to his immense potential, especially after years of inconsistent returns and shuffling batting positions. This latest century, only his second in home conditions, snapped a near nine-year drought for a home Test ton, reinforcing his return to a rich vein of form that began with his stellar stint as an opener in England.
Speaking on the criticism, Rahul acknowledged that he is aware of the numbers but has made a conscious mental shift to focus on the process rather than the outcome.
“I don’t let it bother me but it’s not that I don’t see it,” Rahul said on JioHotstar. “Obviously I see it and ideally any batter would want their numbers to be as high as it 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.”
The 33-year-old explained that he has a clear understanding that runs and high averages are a natural consequence of solid fundamentals and enjoyment of the game.
“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,” he stated.
Rahul stressed the importance of a step-by-step approach, noting that cricket, at the end of the day, is still a game of numbers that brings its own expectations and pressure. “So it’s important to take it step by step and not go to step 3 first and forget the first two steps. But there is 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’s composed century in Ahmedabad—his 11th in Test cricket—is his latest statement in a rejuvenated phase, following an outstanding series in England where he amassed 532 runs in 10 innings. His form suggests a sustained push to improve his long-term statistics and finally convert his prodigious talent into consistent, high-value performances for the Indian Test side.