India, June 24 -- Look at KL Rahul today, and you see an individual at peace with himself. Someone who knows precisely what his role is, what his position is in the larger scheme of things is. Someone who is freed up in the mind and is therefore perfectly primed to make the most of his ability, of which he has plenty.

It hasn't always been thus. Rahul is hailed as one of the more versatile and adaptable batters of his generation, which has more than occasionally worked against him. Need a batter at No. 6 who will also keep wicket in South Africa because Rishabh Pant is recuperating from the horrific injuries following a road accident? KL Rahul. Need a stop-gap No. 4 because Virat Kohli is away on paternity leave? KL Rahul, of course. Nee...