K L Rahul, now 32, is hoping to use the upcoming IPL as a stepping stone to return to the Indian T20I team. He is eager to stay active in all three formats of cricket.With the first Test of the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series approaching in Perth, Rahul is likely to open the batting if captain Rohit Sharma is unable to play.Rahul has scored 514 runs in Test matches over 12 games (21 innings) with an average of 25.7, including three half-centuries and one century.Rahul has faced some struggles lately, having been dropped for the last two Tests against New Zealand, where he was replaced by Sarfaraz Khan. However, despite his recent form, Rahul remains focused and determined.”My goal is definitely to get back into the T20 team. I’ve always wanted to be a player who excels in all formats, and that ambition hasn’t faded over the years. I still want to represent India in all three formats, and I’ve been doing that for quite some time,” Rahul shared with Star Sports.”I haven’t been in the T20 team for a while, and I understand my position as a player and what I need to do to make my way back. So, I’m really looking forward to this IPL season to give me the chance to enjoy my cricket and play the way I know I can,” he added.Since 2022, Rahul has had 514 runs in Test cricket, but his performance has dipped recently, with only two fifties in his last nine innings.During the conversation, Rahul stressed the importance of putting the team’s needs above his own personal goals.”We all want to play freely, and many might think that when I’m batting well, I’m enjoying the game. But my main motivation has always been the team first. What I want to do or my natural style of play doesn’t take priority.“In a team sport, every game brings a new role and responsibility that you must embrace to help the team succeed. If I were playing tennis, it would be different, as I could just focus on my own game. But in cricket, it’s about how you can contribute to the team,” he explained.Rahul’s last Test century was against South Africa at Centurion in December 2023. Since then, he has only managed to score two fifties in his last nine innings.
