Former Indian cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has lauded wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul's exceptional finishing skills and composure under pressure, drawing comparisons to legendary former captain MS Dhoni. This praise comes after Rahul's unbeaten 29 runs off 21 balls guided India to a four-wicket victory in a tense 301-run chase against New Zealand in the first One Day International in Vadodara on January 11. Chopra, speaking on JioStar, emphasized Rahul's versatility and ability to adapt to different roles, noting his maturity and game awareness. He specifically highlighted Rahul's approach of taking singles off balls he would usually hit, patiently waiting for the right chances, and effectively controlling the chase in death overs. Chopra stated that Rahul is excelling at the toughest role in modern cricket – the finisher, managing nerves 'almost like Dhoni'. The sentiment is corroborated by other cricket experts and analyses. Hindustan Times and myKhel have reported on KL Rahul quietly redefining the ODI finishing role for India, with statistical data suggesting he is the closest modern approximation to MS Dhoni in terms of cricketing function in ODI chases. Rahul's record of remaining unbeaten in over half of his successful chase innings mirrors Dhoni's signature of calm and control. Former all-rounder Irfan Pathan also praised Rahul's composure in the death overs, especially considering the challenges posed by new rules affecting ball behavior. Rahul's ability to stabilize an innings and then finish it with precision, rather than being a one-dimensional hitter, makes his skill even more valuable in contemporary cricket. His performance against New Zealand, where he stitched crucial partnerships and held back big shots until the decisive moments, exemplifies this growing mastery of the finisher's role for Team India.