IPL 2022: ‘Street smart KL Rahul is the most valuable Indian batter right now,’ says Irfan Pathan

Rahul
has
also
smashed
38
fours
and
20
sixes
in
this
edition
of
the
domestic
T20
tournament
and
led
the
tournament
debutants
by
example.

Impressed
with
the
performance
of
the
30-year-old
India
cricketer,
former
India
seamer
Irfan
Pathan
hailed
Rahul
as
one
of
the
most
valuable
batsmen
due
to
his
ability
to
bat
at
various
positions
and
in
different
modes.

“KL
is
a
street
smart
batsman.
He
is
capable
of
batting
at
any
position,
he
has
done
that
in
India
colours
and
one
can
do
that
with
such
ease
only
if
he’s
talented.
He
is
one
of
the
most
valuable
Indian
batters
because
he
has
the
ability
to
play
in
different
modes,”
Pathan
said
while
speaking
on
Star
Sports’ show
Cricket
Live.

Former
Indian
cricketer
Suresh
Raina
reckons
the
LSG
captain
is
in
the
best
phase
of
his
career
because
of
the
positive
mindset
with
which
he’s
batting
in
the
ongoing
domestic
T20
event.
The
LSG
opener
is
looking
to
take
the
tournament
debutants
into
the
playoffs
with
his
batting
effort.

“KL
(Rahul)
is
in
the
best
mindset
right
now,
he’s
batting
with
a
very
positive
mindset.
He
is
playing
some
amazing
shots
which
proves
that
he
is
in
the
best
phase
of
his
career.
He
is
trying
a
few
new
things
as
well
this
season
(in
his
batting).
He
plays
with
the
mind
of
the
bowlers
and
traps
them.
He
forces
the
bowlers
to
bowl
in
the
areas
which
are
his
strong
zones
and
constructs
his
innings
accordingly.
It
is
really
commendable
to
see
him
bat
like
this,”
Raina
–
who
himself
is
an
IPL
legend
–
said
on
Star
Sports.

Former
Indian
cricketer
Mohammed
Kaif
claimed
the
Karnataka
batsman
is
capable
of
playing
aggressive
shots
from
the
start
of
his
innings
but
the
right-handed
batter
curbs
his
instincts
to
ensure
he
bats
long.

Speaking
on
Cricket
Live
on
Star
Sports,
Kaif
said,
“KL
Rahul
is
trying
to
play
captaincy
innings
this
year.
He
can
be
aggressive
from
the
word
go
and
he’s
capable
of
starting
his
innings
with
a
six
but
he
is
curbing
his
instincts
in
order
to
play
long
and
impactful
knocks.
He
has
all
the
shots
in
his
arsenal,
he
can
play
sweep
shots,
he
can
pull
shots,
and
he
plays
those
cut
shots
brilliantly
but
the
reason
why
he’s
taking
his
time
into
the
middle
is
to
prolong
his
innings.
He
can
take
risks
as
there
are
many
good
batsmen
in
his
team
but
he’s
looking
to
bat
with
the
responsibility
and
lead
his
side
from
the
front.”