How KL Rahul has fared as India's ODI captain: Stats
What's the story
Star wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul is set to lead India in the upcoming three-match ODI series against South Africa, starting November 30. The decision comes after Shubman Gill, the regular skipper, and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer were ruled out due to injuries. Gill is currently in Mumbai for an assessment of his neck injury, while Iyer is unavailable for selection due to injury. This will be Rahul's first stint as captain in over two years.
Leadership
Rahul has led in 12 ODIs
As mentioned, Rahul is set for his first captaincy stint in over two years. He last led India during their tour of South Africa in December 2023. Rahul, who was once the vice-captain of the Indian team across formats, has led the Men in Blue in 12 ODIs. This has resulted in eight wins and four defeats. The keeper-batter has also captained the team in T20Is and Test matches.
Results
ODI series results under Rahul
Rahul first led India in the 2021/22 ODI series in South Africa. The visitors were routed 0-3. However, captain Rahul bounced back later that year with a 3-0 ODI series win over Zimbabwe. Under him, India defeated Bangladesh in an ODI (2022) and Australia in two ODIs at home (2023). In the 2023/24 ODI series in South Africa, the Rahul-led India won 2-1.
Runs
Rahul's batting stats as captain
Over the years, Rahul has emerged as India's dependable middle-order batter in ODI cricket. His ability to rescue the side when in trouble stands out. While leading India, Rahul has slammed 302 runs from 10 innings at an average of 33.55 (4 half-centuries). However, his average improves to 50.72 when not leading India. Overall, Rahul owns 3,092 runs from 88 ODIs at 48.31.