Delhi Capitals (DC) mentor Kevin Pietersen backed KL Rahul to bat at number 4 for India in T20I cricket. Rahul, who was roped in by DC for INR 14 crore in the IPL 2025 auction, has had an impressive run, scoring 364 runs in eight games at a strike rate of 146.18, including three fifties.

Rahul has been out of India's T20I side since the World Cup semifinal against England in 2022. Rishabh Pant has been preferred by India in the absence of Rahul, however, his performance hasn't been up to the mark.

“I would back KL at four for India in T20 cricket. I think you guys have got plenty of opening batters. You've got Rohit (Sharma), you've got Surya (Suryakumar Yadav) who bats at the top, you've got all of these guys. But the way that KL Rahul is playing cricket now — he would be my first choice to bat at four and keep wicket for India,” Pietersen was quoted as saying in the post-match press conference after defeat to RCB.

Pietersen lauded KL Rahul for his positive cricket in recent times. He said he had a deep conversation with Rahul about what he needs to change to adapt to the ever-evolving T20 format.

“I don't think that they've changed their way necessarily just since I've joined the franchise. They changed — certainly KL has been playing in a very positive manner since late last year, mid to late last year. We saw how he finished off a couple of the games for India and almost sealed the deal for you guys in the Champions Trophy in Dubai,” Pietersen said.

“But I've had a lot of incredibly brilliant conversations with him about batting — a lot of deep and meaningful conversations, because when you grow up as a youngster like he did, and you get taught defense, elbow up, play in the V — and then all of a sudden, in your 30s, you've got to change it, and you've got to become a different kind of player for a different format which is evolving all the time — it's very, very difficult.

"So the way that he has accepted that he's needed to change, the way that he has changed, is of great, great credit to the person that he is. He is so positive — the way that he practises, the way that he trains, the way he thinks about the game, and also the way that he talks about the game. So that's KL,” Pietersen added.

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