Delhi Capitals (DC) mentor Kevin Pietersen has advocated for KL Rahul’s return to the Indian T20I team as a middle-order-batter.

Rahul has delivered strong performances for DC in the ongoing IPL. The wicketkeeper-batter has excelled in both top and middle-order roles, amassing 364 runs in eight games at a strike rate of 146.18 and an average of 60.66, including three half-centuries.

Rahul has been sidelined from the Indian T20I side since the T20 World Cup 2022 semi-final against England the Adelaide Oval.

Addressing the media after DC’s six-wicket loss to RCB on Sunday (April 27), Pietersen suggested that Rahul deserves a comeback in the shortest format for India, given his current form.

“I would back KL at four for India in T20 cricket. I think you guys have got plenty of opening batters. You've got Rohit (Sharma), you've got Surya (Suryakumar Yadav) who bats at the top, you've got all of these guys. But the way that KL Rahul is playing cricket now — he would be my first choice to bat at four and keep wicket for India,” Pietersen told reporters.

Rahul scored 41 runs off 39 balls, helping DC post 162/8 in 20 overs against RCB. However, his efforts went in vain as the visitors overhauled the target with six wickets in hand and nine deliveries to spare.

Pietersen lauded Rahul for his positive approach and highlighted his strong performances in the Champions Trophy, where he played some critical knocks, including a top score of 42* against Australia in the semi-final.

“I don't think that they've changed their way necessarily just since I've joined the franchise. They changed — certainly KL has been playing in a very positive manner since late last year, mid to late last year. We saw how he finished off a couple of the games for India and almost sealed the deal for you guys in the Champions Trophy in Dubai,” Pietersen said.

“But I've had a lot of incredibly brilliant conversations with him about batting — a lot of deep and meaningful conversations, because when you grow up as a youngster like he did, and you get taught defense, elbow up, play in the V — and then all of a sudden, in your 30s, you've got to change it, and you've got to become a different kind of player for a different format which is evolving all the time — it's very, very difficult.

"So the way that he has accepted that he's needed to change, the way that he has changed, is of great, great credit to the person that he is. He is so positive — the way that he practises, the way that he trains, the way he thinks about the game, and also the way that he talks about the game. So that's KL,” the DC mentor further remarked.