Champions Trophy 2025: Batting Coach Sitanshu Kotak Showers Praise On KL Rahul For 'Adapting Well' In Indian Batting Lineup

Champions Trophy 2025: Ahead of the final match of the Champions Trophy 2025 between India and New Zealand on March 9, Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak heaped praise on the wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul for his versatile role in the Indian batting lineup, saying that the 32-year-old adapts well. Rahul played a pivotal role in India's 44-run win against Australia in the first semi-final match of the tournament, where he played an unbeaten 42-run knock from 34 balls. He ended the game in style by smashing a six. So far in the Champions Trophy 2025, KL Rahul scored 106 runs from four matches at a strike rate of 96.36 and an average of 106.00.

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Sitanshu Kotak Lauds KL Rahul Ahead of CT 2025 Final

While speaking to the reporters ahead of the match, Indian batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, lauded Rahul for being flexible in the batting lineup and said that the 32-year-old could play at fourth and fifth batting place. The former Saurashtra batter said that KL Rahul is "happy" with his new role in the sixth batting position and it is "great" for the Men in Blue as well.

"He is someone who can open, someone who can go at 4 or 5, and someone who is doing what number 6 is demanding. He adapts well and he is very happy in the role he is performing. When he starts performing at that number that obviously helps him also because it is a different situation he is going in. So, that is great for the team as well," Kotak said, as quoted by PTI.

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KL Rahul's Stats In ODIs

Rahul made his ODI debut in 2016 against Zimbabwe. Following that, he has played 84 matches in the 50-over format, scoring 3009 runs at a strike rate of 88.03. He has slammed seven centuries and 18 fifties in ODIs.

The Men in Blue are unbeaten in the tournament; they started their campaign with a six-wicket win against Bangladesh. Following that, Rohit Sharma's side dominated their arch-rivals Pakistan, sealing a six-wicket triumph in Dubai. In the group stage, Team India sealed two comfortable wins against Bangladesh and Pakistan. However they struggled against New Zealand, but Varun Chakaravarthy's five-wicket haul helped the Men in Blue seal a 44-run win, helping the Men in Blue stay unbeaten in the tournament.

In the first semi-final clash, Team India struggled a bit against Australia, but Mohammed Shami's three-wicket haul and Virat Kohli's masterclass designed a stunning four-wicket triumph for the Men in Blue.