Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir has given crisp reasons for KL Rahul’s shift to number six in the batting order, saying it’s all about playing for the team. Rahul, who began as an opener, has adapted to the middle-order role in ODIs. His recent knock in the Champions Trophy semi-final against Australia proved his ability to finish games under pressure. Rahul played a crucial role in India's four-wicket victory over Australia, scoring an unbeaten 42 off 34 balls. He paced his innings well, accelerating at the right time and sealing the match with a six. His performance highlighted his comfort in the new role, showing why the team management trusts him at number six. During the post-match press conference, Gambhir addressed Rahul’s batting position. He dismissed the idea that a specific number in the order defines a player’s worth. "You know, in a team sport like cricket, numbers don't matter. Batting positions don't matter. It's the impact that matters. You should only be thinking of picking yourself in the playing XI. The rest, whatever is needed of you, you should be happily doing it. KL has done that, and he has done that really well at number six.” Read also: KL Rahul consoles crying fan after IND vs AUS semifinal Gambhir explains the strategy behind Rahul’s role Gambhir further explained why Rahul was moved down the order. He said the decision was made to strengthen India's batting depth, which is crucial in modern-day cricket, and Rahul is comfortable with it. Rahul added, "People keep asking why we pushed KL to number six. We believe it gives us more depth, and that's how we want to play. The conversations I’ve had with him and the team remain the same—we don’t talk about batting positions. We focus on impact and what the team needs." Rahul’s ability to anchor the innings and accelerate when required makes him an asset in the middle order. Meanwhile, with India winning last night, Dubai will host the final match on March 9.