KL Rahul's talent has long been recognized, but according to Sunil Gavaskar, the Indian opener may still be unaware of his full potential. Gavaskar's comments came after Rahul's composed innings in the first Test against England in Leeds, where he remained unbeaten on 47 at the end of day 3.

Gavaskar described Rahul as a "total team man," highlighting his willingness to contribute wherever the team needs him, including keeping wickets. He noted Rahul's equanimity, a rare trait in today's cricket where outward displays of achievement are common. Gavaskar observed that even Rahul's celebrations are muted, suggesting a humble and grounded personality.

The former Indian captain emphasized Rahul's wide range of shots and his ability to play on both the offside and leg-side. Despite this talent, Gavaskar believes Rahul hasn't consistently lived up to his potential, possibly due to self-doubt. He expressed hope that Rahul would perform well in the current series against England, aiming for a significant run haul.

Rahul's recent form in white-ball cricket has been impressive. In the IPL 2025, playing for Delhi Capitals, he scored 539 runs in 13 matches with a strike rate of 149.72, including one century and three half-centuries. This performance has fueled discussions about a potential recall to India's T20I side for the upcoming series against Bangladesh, marking a possible comeback after a two-and-a-half-year absence.

However, there have also been criticisms of Rahul's approach. Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif pointed out that Rahul had become timid in his batting after a bright start to the IPL season. While Rahul has shown his capabilities, converting starts into significant scores remains an area for improvement, according to teammate Cheteshwar Pujara.

Despite these criticisms, Rahul's overall T20 record is impressive. He became the fastest Indian to reach 8,000 T20 runs, achieving the feat in 224 innings. He also became the first player to score IPL centuries for three different franchises. His IPL career showcases a blend of anchoring innings and aggressive strokeplay, proving his adaptability.

Rahul's journey has seen him move up and down the batting order, adapting to the team's needs. With Rohit Sharma's retirement, Rahul has an opportunity to solidify his place as an opener in the Test team. Gavaskar's praise and the analyses from other experts suggest that while Rahul has achieved a lot, there's still more to come from this talented cricketer. The key will be converting his potential into consistent performances and believing in his own abilities.