KL Rahul says batting at No. 5-6 harder under new ODI ball rule
KL Rahul explained the challenges of batting at number five and six since the ICC changed the ODI ball rule in July 2025, after scoring an unbeaten 129 against West Indies.
KL Rahul said batting in the middle order has become more difficult since the ICC changed the ODI ball rule in July 2025. The rule replaced two new balls with a single ball from the 35th over onwards. Rahul scored an unbeaten 129 from 87 balls in the third ODI against West Indies in New Chandigarh on Saturday.
"It's very different, but I've been doing this role for the last 6-7 years. In the last year and a half, since the ball change rule has happened, it's been very different. It's not been easy to get 80-90 in the last 10 overs. The ball's been getting reverse swing," Rahul told JioStar.
Rahul said he has worked on playing older, softer balls and hitting sixes with them. He is expected to feature in India's multi-format series against New Zealand later this month.
CricHubb Take
Rahul's adaptation to the new ball rule at numbers five and six positions him as the prototype for India's post-2027 middle order, where experience with reverse swing will matter more than powerplay explosiveness.