KL Rahul evolving into one of India’s best batsman, says Karnataka Ranji coach

KXIP opening batsman K.L. Rahul has been enjoying a tremendous season in the IPL 2018. He currently stands third in the list of most run-getters in the ongoing season with 471 runs from 11 matches. During KXIP’s previous fixture against Rajasthan Royals, KL Rahul once again did his heroics. While the northerners lost the tie, Rahul scored a sublime 95 to help his team’s cause in the match.

Interestingly, a fortnight ago, K.L. Rahul posted a photo of himself from an IPL match of Kings XI Punjab on his Twitter handles. Along with the picture was a question addressed to his first coach, Samuel Jayaraj Muthu: “Coach, you proud of this? Head still and elbows high!”

Any coach would surely be proud. Especially, when it is done in the maddening frenzy of Twenty20 (T20). At this IPL, the stylish opener from Karnataka has shown that one doesn’t need to compromise on technique to score big consistently in the shortest format. One of the most pleasing sights of the season has been the way Rahul times his shots.

Purists would be pleased. In fact, this IPL could turn out to be another turning point in his career and he could finally establish himself as India’s best batsman in all the three formats, after Virat Kohli.

K.L. Rahul’s childhood coach opens up

Lauding the batsman, Karnataka’s Ranji coach, P.V. Shashikanth, who has worked with him since U-19 days said to Sportstar, “I believe Rahul is India’s best batsman after Kohli and his performance in the IPL could make him an even better and more confident player than he already is. I was impressed with him right from the first time I saw him. His timing and technique had caught my eye straight away.”

He added that he was glad that nobody would brand Rahul as merely a Test batsman any longer. “He has been phenomenal in this IPL. His batting has reminded me of A.B. de Villiers.”

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