KL Rahul is the most improved player: Ravi Shastri

Indian cricketer KL Rahul has transformed as a consistent player over the last one year and is now one of the consistent run-getters in all three formats of the game. Former Indian team director, Ravi Shastri named him as the “most improved player” over the last one year.

KL Rahul made his Test debut against Australia at Melbourne in 2014. He was dropped from the squad later as he failed to produce good results with the bat. He worked hard with his technique to bring in a lot more shots under his belt, which we witnessed in the IPL earlier this year. From there, he never looked back as he scored runs all-around in all formats of the game. Meanwhile, he also became the third Indian to score a century in all three formats of the game alongside Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma.

Shastri said Rahul has a great future ahead of him across different formats. “KL Rahul is the most improved player in the world in last one year. He is not only good for Test cricket but in other two formats. He has a great future ahead of him,” the former all-rounder told the Times of India.

The former Indian captain also pointed out that Rahul would “naturally get even better” and that his wicketkeeping skills will give him an edge over others when considering for selection. “He is certain going to do well for India in all the formats,” said Shastri.

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Rahul said that the overseas tours early in his career helped him become a tougher cricketer. “Thankfully I got to play abroad before I played in India. In Australia, a lot of batsmen have struggled in those conditions and Sri Lanka is not the easiest of places to play. It is tough because you haven’t played in those conditions and at that level before,” said the 24-year-old.

“You start doubting yourself and feel you don’t belong there. Sometimes you have no answers to a few balls bowled at you. But those situations teach you a lot. To overcome that and get whatever runs I have got gives me so much confidence. In fact, much more than what I would have got playing six Tests in India and scoring five centuries.The overseas tours have made me a stronger individual and I’m glad it happened early in my career,” Rahul summed-up.