KL Rahul

KL Rahul arrived in international cricket as a wristy, elegant top-order batsman with a reputation for classical strokeplay. An early Test hundred at Sydney in 2015 announced a technician who could bat time, but injuries and inconsistency saw him drift in and out of the side.

At his best, Rahul is a chameleon: opener, middle-order floater and wicketkeeper, able to anchor a chase or accelerate at will. A World Cup century against Sri Lanka at Headingley in 2019 and a prolific run as an IPL opener and captain underlined a matured batsman with a game for every situation.

His red-ball record has been questioned, yet his Test average sits in the mid-30s with hundreds scored in Australia, England, South Africa and the Caribbean, and his overseas returns improved markedly on India's 2024-25 tour of Australia and the 2025 tour of England. In white-ball cricket the numbers are stronger still, with an ODI average above 45 and a central role in India's plans.

Rahul has captained India as a stand-in across formats, leading with calm pragmatism. Injuries have slowed him at times, but his ability to reinvent his role keeps him relevant, and he remains one of India's most technically sound batsmen.