Kolkata: KL Rahul was never at ease with expectations, especially after a hopeful start that saw him score hundreds in his first three tours in 2014-15 at Sydney, Colombo, and Kingston. Indian batsmen don't get a peaceful introduction. There was Rahul, igniting the crowd with his smooth playing and controlled fury. This is as difficult a situation as it gets for a batsman, slipping from that peak into a limbo where he was constantly unsure of his spot in the starting eleven and then being ignored for the captaincy. Where does he go from here?

Rahul is 33 years old. He may still be destined to be remembered as a great batsman with an enviable record. Most batting legends establish themselves in their early twenties before confronting growing uncertainty. In Rahul's situation, however, it was detrimental that he was almost instantly shoved about in the batting order when he should have been gradually introduced into the batting nucleus. Indian cricket has been guilty of poorly handled transitions and Band-Aid solutions on many occasions, which is to blame for this.

He hasn't had the benefit of the breaks, either. Conviction wasn't excellent all the time. Rahul's returns haven't always justified the talent he came with, despite commanding where he is comfortable and quiet elsewhere. His aloof demeanor didn't help, either. Even in his most vulnerable moments, Virat Kohli dominated the camera, but Rahul always appeared more human. The figures also speak for themselves. Rahul's average in England is 34.11, which is the most pertinent; he averages 39.62 at home, 25.72 in Australia, and 28.38 in South Africa. Rahul will almost certainly never be captain, given that India captains are typically given a long leash nowadays and Shubman Gill is in charge. This leaves him with the next best option: to improve his performance and become the cornerstone of India's batting lineup.

This is also important because, for the first time since the early 2010s, India seems to be suffering so severely from a lack of experienced players. The captain is ultimately accountable, but without backing from players who can affect the game, confidence may wane. One or more devoted senior players have been available to share their knowledge with the batting group for a long time. India is now in the situation of having a man who has only played three Tests in England selected to lead there. In retrospect, Kohli's absence seems like a permanent setback. However, it's also a chance for Rahul to discover his vocation.

It must be good news that it comes from England above all other nations. Rahul has accumulated 597 runs, including two hundreds, in nine Tests spanning two tours in 2018 and 2021-22. When the team management gathers to select Yashasvi Jaiswal's partner, the fact that he opened in all but one of those Tests will surely be to his advantage. Rahul's statistics as an opener in England strengthen his argument, although there is still no certainty on who will bat at No. 4 if Gill comes in at one-drop. Given the predominantly untested batting lineup until Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja arrive, India also requires that little bit of assurance at the top.

Rahul also requires this. He would welcome the chance to demonstrate that he is not a wasted talent. Over the past 18 months, he has experienced a steady rise; he scored 66 runs—India's highest score—in the ODI World Cup final in 2023, an undefeated 34 runs in the Champions Trophy final in 2025, and was in excellent form in the IPL, where he scored a century for the first time since 2022. But he needs to improve in red-ball cricket.

There is rationale for being cautious about placing so much trust in Rahul. Rahul's career trajectory raises some concerns because, despite the fact that averages are still the most reliable indicator of a batter's value in red-ball cricket, He was averaging approximately 33 and did not score a century between December 2016 and September 2018. Across 15 Tests played between 2018 and 2019, this dropped to 22.23, rendering his position untenable. He made a spectacular return during the 2021 Tour of England, scoring 84 in the first Test at Nottingham and 129 at Lord's before losing his edge. A few months later, a pulsating century at Centurion sparked optimism, but he disappeared once more for almost two years.

However, there are mitigating circumstances. Since he wasn't always the first choice, he had a little greater strain to perform than the others. In addition, he suffered injuries that kept him out for several months at a time.

Rahul does, however, care. He constructed his innings by leaving the ball while the remainder of the team was succumbing to dazzling shots during the last tour in Australia. He faced 551 deliveries in the series, just behind Jaiswal's 732, but this perseverance didn't always result in significant runs.

However, since India's batting is undergoing a generational change, it is likely not the end of the world to allow Rahul work his way through the rough waters at the start and prepare the way for the others. If Rahul succeeds in doing that, there would be no better demonstration of leadership.

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