Moeen Ali highlighted KL Rahul's crucial role in helping India draw the series 2-2 against England.
Ali highlighted Rahul's crucial role in helping India draw the series 2-2 against England, hailing him among the world's best.
"I think people don't realise how good someone like KL (Rahul) is," Ali said on the Beard Before Wicket podcast. "He was brilliant last year as well in England, and he’s been brilliant again in this series.
"I know Shubman scored the most runs and was outstanding with a brilliant technique. But I thought KL’s role within that side was probably the best I’ve seen him play over there. He's such a good player.
"I genuinely believe he's one of the best players in the world—and I've said that for a while.
Moeen also urged the Indian opener to play more freely. "Sometimes I feel like he doesn't take the handbrake off—he should just free up a bit more. But generally, I’d say he’s one of the best players in the world."
KL Rahul returned with 532 runs at an average of 53 in the five-match series, including two hundreds and as many half-centuries.
Veteran England spinner Adil Rashid also endorsed Moeen’s views on Rahul. “He goes under the radar. But in this series, his tempo, his technique stood out,” Rashid said.
“When you talk about the art of batting in Test cricket—going forward, going back—there was a lot of that. His defence was solid, but when there was a half-volley, he drove it, even if he got caught.
“He had his game in order. He looked very comfortable, in both defence and attack. This is probably the first time we've seen that over a full five-game stretch—where he’s consistently looked spot-on.
“This guy looks class. He looked really good in defence and in attack.”