KL Rahul shared his first reaction on being dropped down to No.6 position in the batting order after India’s four-wicket win over Australia in the first semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday (March 4).

After becoming a full-time No. 5 in ODI cricket, Rahul expanded his range as a middle-order batter. He has an average of 61.52 in that position which is higher than anyone else since 2020.

South African hitter Heinrich Klaasen’s average is also seven points less than that of Rahul’s. But in the ongoing Champions Trophy, the Indian team management is promoting left-hander Axar Patel to No. 5 to break the line-up of right-handers.

As a result, Rahul dropped down to No.6 but he's adapted to that position as well. The wicketkeeper-batter played a crucial knock of 42* in 34 balls to propel India to victory in the semi-final against Australia.

"Yeah, I do [enjoy batting at the top], I mean I won't lie," Rahul told Star Sports after securing India's spot in the final. "It's after opening the batting in Australia in Test matches and having to face that attack in Australia and you know how red-ball [cricket] is much harder. I opened the batting there and then to come here and bat low seems a bit different, but this is how I've played white-ball cricket in the last four-five years.

"So, I'm quite used to going up and down the order so I'm just happy getting a chance to play in the middle and whatever role is given, I think it's really helped me understand my game a lot more and I've had to work on boundary hitting a lot more in the last year or so because the last ODI we played in Sri Lanka I batted at No. 6, so I knew that's where I'll be batting and [we] needed a left-hander in the top order."

Before the start of the Champions Trophy, there was a selection debate between KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant for the wicketkeeper’s spot. The team management eventually put their faith on Rahul.

In the semi-final, Rahul who came to bat after the dismissal of Axar, with Indian needed 86 runs in 15 overs. The right-hander rose to the occasion and took his team over the line with 11 deliveries to spare.

"Honestly, I mean it's since I think 2020 I've batted at No.5 and a lot of times people forget that that's where I've been batting," Rahul said. "And every time I perform in a series and then there's a break from ODI series, ODI cricket and then we come back after four or five months there's a question mark again about 'oh well will he play in the XI, where does he fit' and sometimes I'm sitting there thinking what more can I do. Everywhere that I've been asked to play I've played and I feel like I have performed my role. Whatever's been told to me by Rohit [Sharma], Rohit's been the captain for the last four-five years.

"And whatever he's told me I feel like I've done that to the best of my ability. And I know that Rohit feels the same and he's always supported me and backed me with that. So, there's that confidence going into game that the captain has my back."