KL Rahul on Dealing with Online Harassment

India’s prominent cricketer KL Rahul, frequently criticised for his performances and scoring pace, has opened up about the impact of online trolling and negativity on social media. The wicketkeeper-batter shared that while he initially managed such criticism well, the relentless online abuse eventually started affecting him, even during times when he wasn’t playing. Speaking on Nikhil Kamath's YouTube channel, Rahul mentioned, "I used to handle trolling pretty well and didn't pay much attention to it earlier, but a couple of years ago, the constant trolling started getting to me. Whether I played or not, I was still subjected to it."

Rahul’s last appearance for India came in an ODI series against Sri Lanka, where he managed only 31 runs across two innings. Despite an impressive ICC Cricket World Cup performance last year, amassing 452 runs in 10 innings at an average of 75.33, including a century and two half-centuries, Rahul faced criticism for his knock of 66 off 107 balls during the final against Australia. India lost that match by six wickets, unable to defend a total of 241.

In the IPL 2024 season, Rahul faced further backlash despite being one of the top 10 run-scorers with 520 runs in 14 matches at an average of 37.14. His strike rate of 136.12, though decent, drew criticism when compared to the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and rising stars such as Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson, leading to renewed trolling.

Reflecting on a controversial moment from 2019, Rahul recalled the time he and Hardik Pandya were suspended and fined Rs 20 lakh after comments made by Hardik on "Koffee With Karan" sparked outrage. Though the suspension was brief, Rahul admitted that the experience had a lasting effect on him, stating it was his first time facing such disciplinary action, even in school.

Despite the ups and downs, Rahul continues to navigate the pressures of being a high-profile cricketer in the digital age, dealing with criticism and striving to perform at his best on the field.