Is KL Rahul really a match winner ?

[maniac]

I mean I don’t ever remember a career defining knock by him in any format yet. 
 

Forget winning causes I don’t even remember Rahul having a standout knock in a losing cause for example MS Dhoni 100 vs Pak where he destroyed Ajmal. 
 

The much hated Rahane and Pujara have also won/ drawn matches.
 

Hardik Pandya played a blinder in the CT final. 

 

Other stalwarts: Stuart Binny (vs Bangladesh and England), Vijay Shakar (vs Aus,Pak), Pandey (vs Aus), Rayudu (vs Nzl), DK (Nidihaas).

 

Even Hanuma Vihari  will be remembered (probably only thing in his career) for heroically drawing the Sydney test batting with a torn hamstring against 3 140+ bowlers and Lyon.

 

Now I know he might have scored a 100 here and a 50 there but most times someone else seems to steal his thunder. He played a good supporting act in a knock here or there but what would you say his greatest hits are?

 

I don’t recollect too many from IPL either. Please don’t tell me RCB vs MI 2016, Kings vs RR 2020 etc, I wouldn’t know if you asked me who played in the eliminator 2 IPL’s ago.

 

From recent memory too I don’t recollect any standout knocks in the IPL either.

 

Look I am not saying he is a bad player. He is very stylish to watch but as I said even lesser players have such career defining moments. When it comes to Rahul do you think the hype and popularity matches  his cricketing legacy so far?

 

I just don’t get it.

 

 

[sarcastic]

Some innings in home test in early 2017 vs Australia that led to India eventually winning the series from a near loosing position.
I think that established KL Rahul as the test player.

The fact that he is the best talent to come into team India since the arrival of Rohit Sharma is more or less undisputable.
If he gets his mind right, he can be one of the greatest ever match winners for team India.

[Majestic]

Lords Test, winning a test match overseas, especially if it is England or Australia, is always special.

 

In LOIs, he lacks as far as that memorable knock is concerned. Don't recall anything.

[The Realist]

      

 

Nobody thinks of him as a match winner, he can't close a game to save his life as seen umpteen times in the IPL

 

He's a passenger really, won't ever lead or direct but happy to sit in the back seat and when you ask him to step up to drive as tired, he will go AWOL.

 

 

 

[cricketfan28]

He will have some in the future..

[R!TTER]

He's pretty good in tests, in fact he was great till 2017 - then Kohli dropped him for his BFF in SA & as they say the rest is history 

[Adamant]

8 minutes ago, R!TTER said:

He's pretty good in tests, in fact he was great till 2017 - then Kohli dropped him for his BFF in SA & as they say the rest is history 

Hogwash. 

Kl played two tests out of three in SA and averaged 12.

[vvvslaxman]

In bi laterals, warm ups, dead matches. I am talking about ODIs. In Tests he was okay in the last series.

[Khota]

Why is KL being debated. He is the top 3 bat for India right now. End of story. 

[vvvslaxman]

Having seen his career thus far he will finish his career as an underachiever.  There was this guy Carl Hooper who was considered as good as Viv at one point often would get out to silly shot and under performed. I think KL Rahul may go that way. Although he has rectified some of his weak areas he is not someone who is switched on all the time. He can prove m wrong by having a mega series where he scores runs in every test. A 500 plus series , 600 plus series.

[ShoonyaSifar]

100 at Lord's on the second innings to win us the 1st test

 

100 along with Pant's 100 at Oval in the last test of 2018 England series (we were 2/3 at one stage chasing 450 odd)

 

Some years ago, T20 100 off 50 deliveries vs WI 

His middle order ODI batting in last 18-20 months

 

He's doing fine. Unlike our other Yoddhas, has shown flexibility to bat in the middle order, take up keeping for the team interest. Now a s the time to hit peak form and have 4-5 great years.

[nevada]

He hit a century in a T20 against the WI which was played in Florida. Due to that and a few other quick knocks in T20I, he had an average of 50 and a SR of 150 at one point.  In LOIs, he could be moved back to the middle order where he was batting when he was keeping wickets. 

[speedheat]

Absolutely not.

[Majestic]

In ODI, he has shown that he is good at 5 vs old ball and tired bowlers, can smack at a good strike rate.

 

In Tests, Lords and Bangalore are the ones to remember.

 

In T20Is, well I don't really care about that but as per memory, 50 of 17 in a world tournament vs Nambia is one to talk about.

[Norman]

You remove KL Rahul and we'd have lost the 2017 home series to Australia 

 

Recent 100 at Lords. 

 

None in white ball cricket. Yes he scored that 100 against England in Manchester on a pancake but doesn't really cut it. 

[Lone Wolf]

Move him to middle order in limited overs.  He can't open in big games that's a fact.  He has all the talent & could be used better at no 5 in ODI T20..  When he has no time to think but score quick. 

 

[ShoonyaSifar]

13 minutes ago, Lone Wolf said:

Move him to middle order in limited overs.  He can't open in big games that's a fact.  He has all the talent & could be used better at no 5 in ODI T20..  When he has no time to think but score quick. 

 

He already is in ODIs, no? Has been our best ODI batsman in the last 20-22 months.

[Bigg Brother]

He has been hardly given one position to bat on. In LOIs, Around 2017 he was there only if opener was injured,then tried again in Middle Order,then again as reserve opener only,then again benched as Dhawan returned,then again played as Wicket keeper batsman in NZ tour...

[Lord]

Guy has oodles of talent but needs a permanent physchotherapist. Always looks nervous/sad.

 

Tons at Lords/SCG.90 at Bengaluru & some breathtaking knocks in LOIs are there

 

But no doubt an under achiever

[Lord]

1 hour ago, Lone Wolf said:

Move him to middle order in limited overs.  He can't open in big games that's a fact.  He has all the talent & could be used better at no 5 in ODI T20..  When he has no time to think but score quick. 

 

 

Who can?