KL Rahul's journey from being inconsistent to indispensable
What's the story
KL Rahul's name stands right atop the list of technically sound batsmen in world cricket.
A naturally aggressive batsman, Rahul has finally stamped his authority with his 360 degree gameplay.
The 27-year-old has been in sublime form as India's mainstay wicket-keeper in limited-overs of late.
However, talent was not suffice for his career to boom.
Let us decipher how Rahul cordoned off his inconsistency.
Domestic cricket
Rahul did not rise to prominence in a flash
Hailing from an academic background, Rahul made his First-class debut for Karnataka in the 2010-11 season.
Besides, his breakthrough moment came in 2013-14 when he racked up 1033 in 10 Ranji Trophy games at 68.86 with three hundreds.
Earlier that year, Rahul received his maiden IPL call-up.
A year later, he smashed twin centuries (185, 130) in Duleep Trophy final, playing for South Zone.
Australia tour
Rahul smashed a century in his second ever Test
Rahul's terrific run in domestic circuit fetched him a maiden international call-up in 2014.
He made his debut in the Boxing Day Test down under, also MS Dhoni's final Test.
Although he could muster only four runs in the Test, Sydney was where is broke the shackles.
The right-hander paired up with Virat Kohli and scored his first ever international ton (110 off 262).
Test cricket
Rahul showed signs of brilliance in Test cricket
Rahul's 108 in Colombo proved to be a series-defining knock as India lost the first Test to Sri Lanka.
After missing out on national squad for a year, Rahul made a successful comeback in Test cricket by scoring a blistering ton straight up against West Indies (158).
He missed a historic feat by getting dismissed on 199 against England in December 2016.
Shorter format
Rahul continued to dominate in T20 Internationals
Rahul scored a magnificent century on his ODI debut, against Zimbabwe in 2016.
Following a 70-ball 63* in his third ODI, his next fifty plus score came in the 2018 Asia Cup.
During this period, he continued to dominate in T20Is.
He became the third Indian batsman to post a century in all formats, having hammered 110* in a T20I against West Indies (2016).
Inconsistency
He went through a lean patch in 2018
The year 2018 exposed Rahul's frailties across formats.
Suddenly, he was under the scanner for imprecise technique and inconsistency.
He piled up 468 in 12 Tests at 22.28 with mere a solitary hundred (149 vs ENG).
In 13 T20Is, he scored 324 runs at 36, including a century.
He underwent a gruelling phase of dejection in the wake of infamous 'Koffee' fiasco.
Information
Rahul was all guns blazing in the IPL
Despite going through a rough patch, Rahul made merry in the 2018 edition of IPL. Playing for KXIP, he tallied 659 runs in 14 matches at 54.92. In the following season, he was the second highest run-scorer with 593 runs at 53.91.
Comeback
Rahul has made a successful comeback in limited-overs
Shikhar Dhawan's thumb injury was a blessing in disguise for Rahul as he fired 57 against Pakistan in the 2019 WC.
Since December 2019, he averages 66.87 in ODIs.
Moreover, Rishabh Pant's concussion injury made way for Rahul in the playing XI.
Although he has been donning the wicket-keeping gloves ever since, it will be interesting to see if he stays the mainstay wicket-keeper.