Fact Check: Fake post of KL Rahul’s retirement goes viral

Star India batter KL Rahul hasn’t announced his retirement from professional cricket. An image which has been faslely claimed to be from Rahul's Instagram story has gone viral but that’s far from the reality. The keeper-batter recently featured for India in the ODI series against Sri Lanka and will play in the upcoming Duleep Trophy, slated to begin on September 5.

The viral post is understandably an edited picture of KL Rahul’s Instagram story. On August 22, the player shared a message on his profile stating that he had an announcement to make. However, that same post was later edited and was shown as a retirement post.

“After much reflection and consideration, I have decided to announce my retirement from professional cricket. This decision has not been easy, as the sport has been a significant part of my life for many years,” it read. “I am deeply grateful for the support and encouragement from my family, friends, teammates, and fans throughout my career. The experiences and memories I have gained on and off the field are truly invaluable. I am honoured to have represented my country and played alongside so many talented individuals.

“While I am excited about the new chapter that lies ahead, I will always cherish the time spent in the game. Thank you all for being a part of this incredible journey," it added.

Notably, Rahul was one of the best players for India in the ODI World Cup 2023. He played a valuable knock against Australia in India’s opening game and scored 452 runs in 11 matches in the entire tournament.

He struggled to find his rhythm in the 2024 IPL, and was ignored from India's T20 World Cup squad. Earlier in the year, during the five-match home Test series against England which India won 4-1, Rahul started well with scores of 86 and 22 in the series-opener Hyderabad, but a quadriceps injury ruled him out for the remaining series. In his absence, Dhruv Jurel has done a commendable job which has put KL Rahul in a tough spot as Rishabh Pant has also returned in the scheme of things since.