KL Rahul credits Abhishek Nayar for helping him revamp his T20 game

KL Rahul surprisingly credited Team India batting coach Abhishek Nayar for his white-ball skill improvement and resurgence in T20 form.

KL Rahul credits Abhishek Nayar for helping him revamp his T20 game

KL Rahul credited Abhishek Nayar for helping him improve his form in white-ball cricket. (via Indian Express)

Indian wicket keeper-batter KL Rahul surprisingly credited Team India batting coach Abhishek Nayar for helping him improve his skills in white-ball cricket. The 32-year-old opened up about the reason behind his return to form in T20s, amid the ongoing IPL season. 

KL Rahul has found himself back into the Indian white-ball setup, owing to a major resurgence in form. The Karnataka-native who has scored over 5,200 runs in 85 ODIs and 72 T20I appearances for India, did endure a rough patch. However, a stellar 2023 ODI World Cup campaign, sealed his place in the team. Rahul ended as the Indian team’s fourth-highest run-getter, while helping the Men in Blue make it to the finals. 

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Rahul had previously faced criticism for his poor strike-rate in white-ball cricket, especially T20s, as a result of which he even lost his place in India’s T20I team after 2022. However, his versatility, to bat anywhere up or down the order, has allowed him to bounce back. Coming off a successful Champions Trophy campaign, Rahul has his eyes on securing his maiden IPL trophy. 

KL Rahul was bought by Delhi Capitals at the 2025 IPL Mega Auction for INR 14 crores. It came after a rather mixed three-year stint with Lucknow Super Giants. His role was questioned, following the team’s 7th place finish last season. The 32-year-old seems to be in good touch this season, and most recently scored a brilliant knock of 77 runs off 51 balls against CSK, to help DC claim its third successive win. 

Speaking to Delhi Capitals’ mentor Kevin Pietersen after winning the Man of the Match award against CSK, KL Rahul made a surprising revelation about the man behind his recent resurgence in T20 cricket. The wicket-keeper batter gave a shout out to Team India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar for helping him out in training, after being appointed to the role last year. Rahul even exclaimed that the former KKR coach, part of Gautam Gambhir’s entourage, helped enjoy playing white-ball cricket once again.

I’ve worked really hard on my white ball game in the last year or so. Big shout out to Abhishek Nayar. I’ve worked a lot with him ever since he’s come into the Indian team. We’ve spent hours and hours together.

KL Rahul on his T20 form resurgence

Moreover, the former Punjab Kings captain added that Abhishek Nayar helped him change his mindset about batting in T20s. KL Rahul confessed that his past strategy of trying to extend every game deep had caused him to lose the joy of hitting boundaries.

KL Rahul makes it to IPL history books, equals Virat Kohli’s record of half-centuries as opener 

Delhi Capitals batter and Indian wicket-keeping star KL Rahul equaled Virat Kohli’s record of fifties in the IPL, while batting as an opener. The 32-year-old achieved this record after scoring a match-winning innings of 77 runs off 51 balls, against Chennai Super Kings. 

KL Rahul new IPL record
KL Rahul equaled Virat Kohli’s record of most 50+ scores in the IPL. (via News 18)

Rahul, having played for five IPL franchises throughout his career, is third on the list of players with the most half-centuries scores in the IPL as an opener. The former Lucknow Super Giants captain now has 38 fifties in the Indian Premier League. He is level on terms with RCB star and the tournament’s highest-ever run-scorer, Virat Kohli, who also has 38 fifties as an opener.

The list is interestingly headed by ex-Australian star, David Warner. Meanwhile, KL Rahul’s consistency is highlighted by his 6th position in the list of players with most 50+ scores in the IPL, only behind Rohit Sharma. Moreover, his record of exceeding 500 runs in six of the last seven IPL seasons has been impressive, only falling short in an injury-marred 2023.

Following his impressive innings against CSK, KL Rahul, who has played for Punjab, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Delhi in the IPL, has now amassed 4775 runs across 134 IPL matches. He has also registered four centuries in the tournament.