KL Rahul: Does His Anchor Role Still Work in IPL 2025?

There was a time when the role of an “anchor” in T20 cricket was as secure as the toss itself. Hold one end, pace the innings, and let the strokemakers do the rest. KL Rahul built a reputation—and a franchise strategy—on that premise. But the game has changed. In IPL 2025, where teams chase 200 like it’s par and strike rates have become non-negotiable, Rahul’s methodical accumulation is now under scrutiny.

It’s not that Rahul lacks ability. Few Indian batters boast his elegance, composure, and sheer weight of runs. But the tempo of those runs—the rhythm of his innings—now feels increasingly out of sync with the league’s evolution. As players like Ruturaj Gaikwad and Abhishek Sharma redefine opening with strike-first intent, Rahul’s approach invites a tougher question: does his anchor role help, or hinder, in today’s T20 arms race?

This article explores Rahul’s IPL 2025 campaign, his evolving batting philosophy, and whether there’s still room for the classical anchor in a format that seems to have outgrown it.

1. The Numbers Behind the Narrative: Rahul’s 2025 Season So Far

As of mid-season IPL 2025, KL Rahul has once again been consistent—but that word means less than it used to. He’s not failing. He’s scoring runs. But the impact of those runs is under the scanner.

Through 9 matches this season, Rahul has tallied 312 runs at an average of 39, striking at 129.4. On paper, respectable. But in an era where powerplays decide momentum and even No. 8s strike at 150, Rahul’s cautious starts have compressed team ceilings—especially when partnered with similarly paced batters.

In a match against Rajasthan Royals, he scored 61 (49) while chasing 194. LSG fell short by 18 runs. Rahul’s knock included elegant flicks, delicate late cuts—but just three boundaries in his first 30 balls. The required rate ballooned. The platform was there, but the launch never came.

Compare that to the league’s top run-getters—Virat Kohli 2024-style, or Shubman Gill this season—who maintain high averages while striking above 145, and Rahul’s game looks dated. He’s playing a 2019 role in a 2025 context, and T20 isn’t known for sentiment.

The numbers suggest he’s not struggling—but they also suggest his innings shape might be slowing down his team, especially when others around him are scoring at a tempo that pressures bowlers from ball one.

2. The Tactical Dilemma: Structure or Stagnation?

The defence of KL Rahul’s approach has always leaned on one word: stability. And there’s no doubt he brings that. He rarely throws his wicket. He reads conditions well. He can bat deep. But in a tournament where teams now chase 60 in the last four overs with confidence, is stability still the currency franchises value?

Lucknow Super Giants have tried to build around Rahul’s anchoring—loading the middle order with hitters like Nicholas Pooran, Marcus Stoinis, and Ayush Badoni. The theory: let Rahul bat through and let the chaos come later. But the problem is tempo doesn’t switch as easily as tactics do. A sedate Powerplay often demands too much from the back end.

In a game against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rahul batted through the first 10 overs for a 39-ball 45. LSG ended with 172, a total that looked 15 short—and proved to be. The back-loaded firepower couldn’t overcome the early drift. This isn’t an isolated pattern. It’s a recurring tactical bottleneck.

Contrast that with the likes of Abhishek Sharma or Phil Salt, who attack early and put bowlers under pressure immediately. Their 30s at 180 strike rate often prove more decisive than Rahul’s fluent 60s at 130.

There’s a structural mismatch here: Rahul provides control, but T20 now demands disruption. In trying to anchor, he sometimes creates the very pressure the finishers are brought in to alleviate.

3. Changing League, Same Player?

To KL Rahul’s credit, he has made some visible efforts to evolve. His strike rate against spin has improved, and he’s taken more risks in the middle overs. But his Powerplay returns—where the ball is hard, the field is up, and the game is begging to be seized—remain too conservative.

In 2025, his Powerplay strike rate is just over 115, one of the lowest among openers facing more than 100 balls in that phase. It’s not just a statistic—it’s a warning. In a league where bowlers now vary pace from ball one and matchups are algorithmically optimised, slow starts put pressure on everyone down the line.

This isn’t a case of Rahul being out of form. He’s not. He’s just not in the format’s rhythm anymore.

And this is where perception begins to diverge from reality. Fans see Rahul’s aggregate runs and class and assume solidity. Coaches and analysts see ball-by-ball data and ask: where’s the value per delivery?

Even in India’s broader white-ball thinking, the likes of Ruturaj, Jaiswal, and Ishan Kishan have added layers of urgency. Rahul, by contrast, seems caught between two identities—the classical accumulator and the modern aggressor—without fully committing to either.

4. The Captaincy Factor: Strategic Anchor or Tactical Complication?

KL Rahul isn’t just a batter—he’s a captain, and captains shape not just line-ups but ideologies. His tenure at Lucknow Super Giants has seen a continuation of his cautious style as both batter and strategist. When your opener is also your leader, the way he bats often sets the psychological tone for the rest.

In some cases, that brings clarity. In others, like LSG’s loss to Gujarat Titans where they were chasing 176 and finished well short, Rahul’s 55 off 47 balls looked disconnected from the match context. The batting order followed suit—hesitant, unsure whether to build or explode.

This isn’t to say Rahul lacks intent—but his natural tempo as a player often bleeds into how the team paces its innings. Contrast that with Rishabh Pant’s fearless tempo for Delhi, or Faf du Plessis’ aggressive early intent with RCB. Their teams often bat with the same rhythm. With Rahul, there’s a visible tension between control and expression—as if the innings has to bend around his approach.

Interestingly, when Rahul has been injured or rested in past seasons, LSG have occasionally looked freer—with Pooran and Stoinis getting more deliveries and Badoni promoted earlier. It’s anecdotal, but it suggests the anchor might be more strategic ballast than tactical springboard.

A strong captain doesn’t always have to lead from the front with volume—sometimes impact matters more than accumulation. And that’s the uncomfortable shift Rahul may need to consider if he’s to remain both tactically relevant and effective in his leadership role.

5. The Anchor Archetype: Is It Now Obsolete in T20 Cricket?

The IPL used to need anchors. From Rahul Dravid to Kane Williamson, batters who “held” innings together were once essential. But in 2025, the game has evolved past safety-first philosophies. Now, even No. 4s come in looking to score at 160+. There’s no time to rebuild; there’s only momentum to manage.

KL Rahul is arguably the last of the traditional Indian anchors in the IPL. Kohli has adapted, Gill accelerates early, and Ruturaj Gaikwad has found a way to mix elegance with aggression. Rahul, by comparison, feels caught in a holding pattern, unsure whether to adapt or refine what already worked for him five years ago.

This isn’t a personal failing—it’s a systemic shift. Teams now use analytics, matchups, and impact players to manage risk differently. Anchoring for 14 overs at 130 strike rate no longer equates to value—especially when lower-order batters can’t face enough deliveries to justify their strike rate.

What used to be Rahul’s greatest strength—his ability to bat long—now becomes a tactical ceiling, unless it’s accompanied by acceleration.

And the problem with being labelled an “anchor” in 2025 is that it comes with baggage. It suggests predictability. It suggests conservatism. And in a format where surprise and tempo control are everything, that predictability might just be Rahul’s biggest vulnerability.

6. KL Rahul’s IPL 2025 Season: Statistical Snapshot

KL Rahul's 2025 IPL campaign marked a subtle yet important evolution in his approach. Often labelled too conservative in past seasons, he has maintained his signature composure while demonstrating a sharper sense of tempo—particularly during chases and high-pressure innings.

KL Rahul – IPL 2025 Batting Summary