KL Rahul opens up on retirement plans after IND vs NZ ODIs

Indian wicket-keeper bat KL Rahul has opened up on retirement plans after the three-match ODI series against New Zealand. Rahul said it won’t be a difficult call as long as he is honest with himself. The Karnataka batter admitted the mental challenges he has gone through after suffering multiple injuries in his career.

At the same time, Rahul said he is still far away from calling it a day. Rahul also recently led India in the three-match ODI series against South Africa, which the hosts won by 2-1, when Shubman Gill was ruled out with a neck injury.

KL Rahul said in a conversation with Kevin Pietersen on Switch YouTube Channel, “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.”

Rahul said he has always had this mindset that he is not that important and the game will carry on after his retirement.

“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 will be next seen in action in IPL 2026.