Former India National Cricket Team head coach Ravi Shastri has revealed an act on the senior opening batsman KL Rahul that left everyone, including the coaches, annoyed.

Ravi Shastri said that everyone was aware of the talent possessed by KL Rahul and knew his potential, but the batter not delivering consistently frustrated them.

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KL Rahul is in top form in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025

Rahul is the senior-most Indian batter in the Test squad at the moment. The retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma meant that an additional responsibility fell on the shoulders of Rahul to lead the team in the batting department.

So far, Rahul has not disappointed as he has batted quite well while opening the innings with the young left-handed batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal.

In the first Test match at Headingley in Leeds, Rahul scored 42 and 137, and followed it up with scores of 2 and 55 in the second Test match at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

Also, in the third Test match at Lord’s in London, Rahul scored 100 and 39 runs across two innings in a losing cause. Overall, he has scored 375 runs in six innings, including two centuries and a half-century, and is the fourth-highest run-getter in the series behind Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, and Jamie Smith.

What annoyed people was, with that kind of talent, he was not delivering – Ravi Shastri

Speaking on ICC Review, the former India head coach said that the best of KL Rahul has been seen in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025. He said:

“I think there was not one person in the world who denied his potential and said that he [Rahul] was not talented. What annoyed people was, with that kind of talent, he was not delivering. And in this series, you’re seeing the best of Rahul.”

Ravi Shastri also highlighted a technical tweak done by KL Rahul that has helped him improve his consistency. He said:

“What I am seeing is a slight adjustment he’s made with his front foot, in his stance and while defending. It just opened up a bit, which allows his back to come through cleanly. Even when he’s hitting it towards mid-wicket, it’s the full face of the blade.”

“He doesn’t need to close the face of the blade, and fall over and get into trouble like he used to in the past. He would get out leg before, would get out bowled, he would get across too far and then be out leg before as well.”

So whatever that average is, he should be close to 50 – Ravi Shastri

Ravi Shastri further said that KL Rahul is a technically sound batsman and even in conditions where bowlers get help, he is perfectly equipped to deal with it. He said:

“He is sound technically, he has been as good as anyone. Especially, it’s not moved a lot in the series, but when it’s moved, he has had the game to look after that movement.”

Rahul has so far scored 3632 runs in his Test career at an average of 35.3, which doesn’t justify his talent. According to Ravi Shastri, the 33-year-old is in his prime form and should end his career with an average of around 50. He said:

“He’s at his prime. He has got to make these next three, four years count. And I see him getting a lot of hundreds because he’s playing a lot of cricket in India as well. So whatever that average is, he should be close to 50.”