KL Rahul opened up about his dreams of returning to the Indian T20 set up before the 2026 World Cup and stated that time away from the format has allowed him to recalibrate his white-ball game.

Rahul, who has not been a part of the shortest format for nearly three years, last played a T20 match at the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia but he is now ready to rumble after a good outing with Delhi Capitals in the IPL. The 33-year-old scored 539 runs in 13 matches at a brisk strike rate of 149.72.

"Yes, I want to get back in the T20 team and the World Cup is on my mind, but for now it's just trying to enjoy how I'm playing right now," Rahul told Sky Sports.

"I obviously had some time to think about my white-ball game, I was quite happy with my performances and where I was. But (there) was a time probably 15 months ago or 12 months ago where I realised that the game is slightly getting ahead or it's changing and becoming much more faster.

"...that it's become more about the team that hits more boundaries is winning the games more often than the team that's, I can't say playing smarter, but the team that doesn't hit as many boundaries is always finding themselves on the losing side."

The time away from T20 internationals, however, has given Rahul the space to reflect on his white-ball game.

"So that's where white-ball cricket is getting and I haven't been part of the T20 team in the last couple of years. That's given me some time to think about my T20 game as well."

"So, overall, just sitting and thinking about where I can get better, where the game's gone and what I need to do to catch up with the game and what can I do to perform and get back in the T20 team, what can I do to become an important player for my team in ODI and T20 overall in white-ball cricket..."

(With PTI inputs)