Kevin Pietersen Backs KL Rahul for T20 World Cup Comeback

As the Indian Premier League (IPL) wraps up, cricket selectors in India will start thinking about the next big event – the 2026 T20 World Cup. It’s pretty unlikely that they’ll pick a new player so close to the tournament, meaning the competition will be between some familiar names and a few other options. One player, KL Rahul, is getting support from Kevin Pietersen, who is a mentor for the Delhi Capitals.

Pietersen believes that KL Rahul should return to the T20 International (T20I) team as a wicketkeeper and bat at number four. Rahul hasn’t played for India in T20I since the 2022 World Cup in Australia and didn’t make the team for the 2024 T20 World Cup, even after scoring over 500 runs in the IPL last season. However, Pietersen is impressed with how Rahul is performing in this year’s IPL and thinks he would be a great fit for the number four batting position.

Rahul became famous in the IPL back in 2016 when he played for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, and 2018 was one of his best seasons when he scored 659 runs with a strike rate of 158.41. Although he scored more than 500 runs in five of the next six years, his strike rate wasn’t as high as it needed to be, especially as T20 cricket changed and more players began scoring quickly. He also faced pressure while leading teams like Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants.

In 2025, without the pressure of captaincy, Rahul is back to playing his best cricket. Even if his numbers might not fully show it, his performances in difficult conditions in Chennai and Bengaluru, where he scored fantastic 77 and 93 not out, really stand out.

Pietersen shared that Rahul has changed his approach to T20 cricket. Since late last year, he has been playing more positively. Pietersen mentioned that he has had many great conversations with Rahul about batting and how important it is for him to adapt his style as cricket keeps evolving. Pietersen praised Rahul for being open to change and for his positive attitude towards training and practicing. “That’s KL,” he concluded.