Star Indian batter KL Rahul has spoken openly about retirement and how his mindset has changed in recent years.
The Karnataka cricketer is currently in excellent form. He scored 142 runs in three innings at an average of 142 in the recent three-match ODI series against New Zealand earlier this month.
Rahul has also been impressive in Test cricket. In 2025, he scored 813 runs in 10 matches at an average of 45.16.
KL Rahul says he will know when it is time to quit
KL Rahul, who is 33 years old, said the decision to retire will not be very difficult for him. He made it clear that he does not believe in dragging his career once he feels he has given everything to the country.
“I don’t think it’s gonna be that difficult. If you’re honest with yourself, when it’s time, it’s time. And there’s no point dragging it. Obviously, I’m some time away. There have been times when I’m injured and I’ve been injured so many times and that’s the hardest battle that you have to face. It’s not the pain that the physio puts you through or the surgeon puts you through. It’s the mental battle where your mind just gives up. You know, when it happens so many times, your mind is just like, you’ve done enough. You’ve been lucky enough that cricket’s given you enough money. You can survive for the next how many ever years,” KL Rahul said in the video released on the YouTube channel ‘Switch’.
He also spoke about the mental challenges during long injury breaks and how thoughts of quitting often come up.
“Just quit. Just enjoy the stuff that you’ve got and you have your family and just do that. That’s the hardest battle. So I try and tell myself that I’m not that important. Cricket in our country will carry on. Cricket in the world will carry on. There are more important things in life and I think this mindset I’ve always had, but ever since I’ve had my first baby, it’s just like, you know, the way you look at life is completely different. So yeah, that’s what I am,” he added.
Rahul has played 67 Tests, 94 ODIs, and 72 T20Is so far. He has scored 9,678 runs across all formats. Now in his 12th year of international cricket, he is expected to play a key role in next year’s ODI World Cup.
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