Will KL Rahul get a chance to make T20I comeback under Suryakumar Yadav's captaincy?

KL Rahul has not been a part of the Indian T20I setup for a long time. The last time he played a T20I match for India was back in the 2022 T20 World Cup, where the Men in Blue lost to England in the semifinals and got knocked out of the competition. However, before that Rahul was a regular feature in the T20I side thanks to his explosive performances at the start of his international career and in various seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Why was Rahul dropped from T20I team?

But after India’s humiliating defeat to England in the T20 World Cup two and a half years back and the subsequent change in mindset of the T20I team under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, Rahul failed to find a place in the side. He had scored just 128 runs in that tournament at an average of 21.33 and strike rate of 120.75, which didn’t impress the selectors either. The BCCI made a few changes for the next T20 World Cup and managed to lift the trophy again after 17 years.

However, KL Rahul has once again given the selectors a reason to consider him in the T20I side. His performance in the ongoing IPL 2025 season has attracted a lot of eyeballs with many people suggesting that the 33-year-old deserves a chance in the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh. India are also slated to host the next edition of the T20 World Cup and with Suryakumar Yadav in-charge now, Rahul may be considered for a place in the squad.

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Rahul’s resurgence and consistency across formats

Rahul has scored 493 runs from 11 matches in IPL 2025 so far. He has a respectable strike rate of 148.04. Rahul has three fifties and a century to his name this season. He scored a sublime 112 off 65 balls in Delhi Capitals’ previous match against Gujarat Titans. However, Sai Sudharsan neutralised Rahul’s effort with a century of his own and some help from GT skipper Shubman Gill, which cost DC the match.

Another reason for Suryakumar Yadav and India head coach Gautam Gambhir to consider Rahul in the T20I side can be his brilliant form across formats in the recent past. After performing well in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia, where he scored 276 runs in 10 innings including two fifties, he helped India win the 2025 Champions Trophy in Dubai with 140 runs in 4 innings at an average of 140.

Can SKY and Gambhir fit Rahul back in?

India are expected to field a completely different team from what they played in the last T20 World Cup. After Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja retired following the victory in the Caribbean, India went ahead and tried the younger players who had been performing well in the IPL.

Many of these players, like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhishek Sharma, and Tilak Varma, are likely to make the squad for the next T20 World Cup. However, SKY and Gambhir might also consider bringing in a more experienced player, someone who can provide the stability and composure needed in high-pressure matches at major tournaments, and KL Rahul’s name will be at the top of that list.

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