KL Rahul on the Challenge of Middle-Order Batting Under the New ODI Ball Rule
India vice-captain KL Rahul explains how the single-ball rule from the 35th over has changed life at Nos. 5 and 6, and how he is adapting his game.
By SportCricket Desk · 5 Oct 2026 · 2 min read
India vice-captain KL Rahul has described how different it is to bat in the middle order since the ICC changed the ODI ball regulations in July 2025.
The rule and its effect
Under the revised rule, one ball is used from the 35th over onwards. That makes the closing stages tougher for middle-order batters. Rahul said the older ball can reverse-swing, which makes it harder to hit boundaries against fielders stationed deep.
Adjusting from the top order
Rahul has spent most of his career in the top order. At No. 5 or No. 6, he said, he has been working on playing softer, older balls and on understanding the responsibilities that come with those positions.
What comes next
He is expected to feature in India’s multi-format series against New Zealand later this month. That could see him fill important roles across different formats and batting slots.
