Before IPL auction, KL Rahul reveals T20 comeback aim and what he needs in new IPL team

KL Rahul is aiming to use the upcoming IPL as a platform to secure his return to the Indian T20I side. The 32-year-old Indian cricketer , who is keen to remain an all-format player, is also in contention to open the innings in the first Test against Australia of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Perth if skipper Rohit Sharma opts to sit out.

However, KL Rahul suffered an elbow injury during a practice match at the WACA ground on Friday, raising concerns about his availability for the first Test of Border Gavaskar Trophy against Australia starting November 22.

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Rahul’s recent form has been a concern, with the batter being dropped from the playing XI for the final two Tests against New Zealand at home. His place in those matches was taken by Sarfaraz Khan.

Despite this, Rahul remains unfazed by his struggles at the crease.

"My aim is to obviously get back into the T20 team. I've always wanted to be an all-format player, and that desire and drive haven't changed over the years. I want to still play for India in all three formats and have done that for many years," Rahul told Star Sports.

He added that the IPL offers him an opportunity to revive his T20I aspirations.

"I've been out of the T20 team for a while, and I know where I stand as a player and what I need to do to get back. So, I look forward to this IPL season to give me that platform to enjoy my cricket and play the way I want to," he said.

KL Rahul had earlier said he is optimistic about playing with greater "freedom" in a "much more balanced" setup as he heads into the upcoming IPL mega auction. The batter finds himself back in the auction pool after being released by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) following their disappointing seventh-place finish in IPL 2024.

Rahul had a mixed tenure with LSG, successfully leading the team to the playoffs in their debut seasons in 2022 and 2023. However, the team’s performance dipped significantly last year. Reflecting on the season, Rahul hinted that external factors may have played a role in the team's struggles.

Since 2022, Rahul has played 12 Test matches (21 innings), scoring 514 runs at an average of 25.7, which includes one century and three half-centuries.

During the interview, Rahul stressed that team goals take precedence over individual aspirations.

"All of us as players want to play with freedom, and everyone would think that the way I batted, I'm enjoying playing that. But like I said, my thought process and motivation have always been team first. It doesn't matter what I want to do or what my natural game is," he explained.

"We play a team sport. If I played tennis, it would be different; I could stick to saying, 'This is my natural game.' But in a team sport, it's very different. Each game, you'll have a different role and responsibility given to you to find a way to deliver for the team," he added.

Rahul’s last Test century came in December 2023 against South Africa at Centurion. Since then, he has managed just two half-centuries in nine innings.

(With PTI inputs)