What makes KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer a force: Contrast in strokes and styles, approach and attitudes

KL Rahul & Shreyash Iyer

In 14 ODI outings together, they have scored 823 runs at an average of 64, put on 100-plus runs once in three innings

The poster boys of Indian cricket were always the top-three batsmen; but behind every meaningful title conquest has been a firing middle order. Kapil Dev’s “devils” had Yashpal Sharma and Sandeep Patil at four and five; MS Dhoni’s champions could slot anyone, from himself and Yuvraj Singh to Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli. Similarly, ending years of combustible middle-order combinations, India have found the ideal 4-5 tango in KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer.

Since joining forces in the post-2019 World Cup rebuilding phase, a tournament where a flimsy middle-order hampered India, they have plundered 823 runs at an average of 64 in14 instances. One in every third association has produced more than 100 runs.

They are a fascinating study of contrasts, in attitude, temperament, approach and strokes. Shreyas seeks risks, he shifts between three different stands in a game, altering it to suit the conditions and bowlers. He counterpunches in a crisis, demoralises bowlers and is arguably the most ruthless destroyer of spin bowling, by using his feet and strong wrists to disrupt their lengths, in the world. His was the wicket Australia craved and planned the most in the 2023 World Cup final. He relishes clutch situations, which former India coach Rahul Dravid has dwelled on. “You just look at some of his knocks under pressure, how he’s able to actually bring the best out of himself under those pressure situations,” Dravid once reflected.

If Shreyas is a thrilling watch, Rahul is a compelling one. He has an equally rich repertoire of attacking strokes, but does it more classically. Their contrasting responses to a short ball captures the essence of the contrast. Shreyas slashes it, often in front of square, sometimes drags it to the leg-side. But Rahul cuts it fine, mostly through the first slip region. He approaches a collapse differently, conforming to the old-fashioned way of weathering the storm before accelerating. He brings adaptability, and could play the aggressor, accumulator, or the enforcer role. Since 2020, nobody has a higher average than his 61.72 at No 5 (a minimum of 20 innings). “I think it’s (batting at 5)  really helped me understand my game a lot more, in terms of understanding my boundary-hitting range,” Rahul had said.