Kevin Pietersen picks India’s No. 4 batter cum wicketkeeper in T20I cricket amid stellar form in IPL 2025

Delhi Capitals’ mentor Kevin Pietersen has picked KL Rahul as India’s number four batter and wicket-keeper in T20I cricket. Rahul has been in tremendous form for Delhi Capitals in the ongoing IPL 2025 and has pushed his case to return to India’s T20I set up.

The flamboyant batter has scored 364 runs in eight matches at an average of 60.67 and a strike rate of 146.18 in the ongoing tournament. Meanwhile, Rahul had last played for India in T20Is in the 2022 T20 World Cup against England in Adelaide.

The wicket-keeper was not part of India’s successful run in the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean. However, he scored 140 runs in four innings of the Champions Trophy and played an instrumental role in taking the Men in Blue to glory.

“I’d bat KL at four for India in T20 cricket, I think you guys have got plenty of opening batters, you’ve got Surya 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 said during the post-match press conference after DC’s loss to RCB in IPL 2025.

The former England swashbuckling batter said Rahul has been batting with a positive approach in the last one year.

“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 in the Champions Trophy in Dubai,” Pietersen said

Pietersen said Rahul is reaping rewards for putting in the hard yards in the practice sessions.

“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 practices, the way that he trains, the way he thinks about the game and also the way that he talks about the game. That’s KL,” Pietersen added.

Delhi Capitals will next take on Kolkata Knight Riders at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on Tuesday.