What annoyed people was, with that kind of talent, he was not delivering: Shastri hails KL’s consistency

KL Rahul has been among the standout performers in the ongoing five-Test series against England, amassing 375 runs from three Tests, including two centuries and a half-century, making him the fourth-highest run-scorer in the series so far.

Hailing KL Rahul’s performance, former India head coach Ravi Shastri said that the 33-year-old has finally turned potential into consistent impactful performances, and still has a long way to go.

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Speaking on The ICC Review, Shastri touched on a sentiment many cricket watchers have shared for years about Rahul’s inconsistency in performance.

“I think there was not one person in the world who denied his potential and said that he [Rahul] was not talented,” Shastri said.

“What annoyed people was, with that kind of talent, he was not delivering. And in this series, you’re seeing the best of Rahul.”

Shastri also highlighted a subtle technical adjustment that has played a role in Rahul’s turnaround.

“What I am seeing is a slight adjustment he’s made with his front foot, in his stance and while defending,” Shastri explained.

“It just opened up a bit, which allows his back to come through cleanly… He doesn’t need to close the face of the blade, and fall over and get into trouble like he used to in the past.”

The results are evident, Rahul’s tally of four Test hundreds in England is now the joint second-most for India, behind only Rahul Dravid’s six.

Shastri believes Rahul is entering his prime, with the next few years crucial to defining his legacy.

“He’s at his prime. He has got to make these next three, four years count,” Shastri said.

“And I see him getting a lot of hundreds because he’s playing a lot of cricket in India as well. So whatever that average is, he should be close to 50.”

Currently, Rahul has 3632 runs in Tests at an average of 35.3, including 10 centuries and 18 fifties.