K L Rahul has set a clear target for India's one-day batting unit: push totals toward 370-380 consistently, because totals in the 340s and 350s are no longer safe. The senior batter revealed he has been reworking his game against the old ball to make that ambition possible.
After a hundred in a losing cause
Rahul was speaking to JioStar after his 87-ball 129 in the third ODI against the West Indies in Mullanpur, where India posted 351 — only for the visitors to chase 352 in 48.2 overs and deny India a series sweep. India had already clinched the rubber by winning the first two games, including a record chase of 406 in Guwahati in just 43.2 overs.
It was a week of run-fests: India chased 406 in the second ODI, then watched 351 get chased down in the third — evidence, Rahul said, that the game has moved on from the old benchmarks.
The old-ball problem
Rahul explained that finishing innings has become harder because the ball gets soft, reverses and stops coming onto the bat, making it difficult to clear long boundaries. "I like the hard ball coming onto me, I can use the pace," he said. "So that's something I've been working on, trying to play with softer, older balls and being able to hit sixes with that."
He added that he constantly tries to understand what a number five and number six batter must do to deliver consistent performances for the team — rotating strike from the moment they walk in and targeting a boundary every six or seven balls.
Eyes on the 2027 World Cup
With the ODI World Cup in South Africa a little over a year away, Rahul said the current series are a testing ground for personnel and plans. The coach and captain, he revealed, have been clear about the players they want to back and are giving a longer rope to those they feel could be important for the World Cup.
The message from India's middle order is unambiguous: don't settle for 340 — push for 370, 380, or even 400 on a given day.
Sources:
The Economic Times: KL Rahul wants India's middle order to push ODI scores towards 370-380
Rediff: KL Rahul's Strategy: How India Aims for 370+ ODI Scores by Mastering Old Ball Play
After a hundred in a losing cause
Rahul was speaking to JioStar after his 87-ball 129 in the third ODI against the West Indies in Mullanpur, where India posted 351 — only for the visitors to chase 352 in 48.2 overs and deny India a series sweep. India had already clinched the rubber by winning the first two games, including a record chase of 406 in Guwahati in just 43.2 overs.
It was a week of run-fests: India chased 406 in the second ODI, then watched 351 get chased down in the third — evidence, Rahul said, that the game has moved on from the old benchmarks.
The old-ball problem
Rahul explained that finishing innings has become harder because the ball gets soft, reverses and stops coming onto the bat, making it difficult to clear long boundaries. "I like the hard ball coming onto me, I can use the pace," he said. "So that's something I've been working on, trying to play with softer, older balls and being able to hit sixes with that."
He added that he constantly tries to understand what a number five and number six batter must do to deliver consistent performances for the team — rotating strike from the moment they walk in and targeting a boundary every six or seven balls.
Eyes on the 2027 World Cup
With the ODI World Cup in South Africa a little over a year away, Rahul said the current series are a testing ground for personnel and plans. The coach and captain, he revealed, have been clear about the players they want to back and are giving a longer rope to those they feel could be important for the World Cup.
The message from India's middle order is unambiguous: don't settle for 340 — push for 370, 380, or even 400 on a given day.
Sources:
The Economic Times: KL Rahul wants India's middle order to push ODI scores towards 370-380
Rediff: KL Rahul's Strategy: How India Aims for 370+ ODI Scores by Mastering Old Ball Play
