IND vs AUS: Strike Rate Is Something That I Am Working On – KL Rahul

Published - 19 Sep 2022, 08:46 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:13 AM

KL Rahul. Image: Twitter

India National Cricket Team vice-captain KL Rahul, who recently has been facing heavy criticism for his poor strike rate in T20Is, said that he is working on various aspects of his game with the strike rate being one of them.

Rohit Sharma-led India National Cricket Team are set to lock horns with Aaron Finch-led Australia National Cricket Team in the first match of the three-match T20I series at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh on Tuesday, September 20.

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Addressing the press on the eve of the first T20I, Rahul said that no one in the dressing room is perfect and everyone has got flaws.

“No one’s perfect. No one in the dressing room is perfect. Everyone’s working towards something, everyone has a certain role to do. Obviously, strike rates are taken on an overall basis.

“You’ll never see when that batsman has played at a certain strike rate, whether it was important for him to play at a 200-strike rate, or whether the team could have still won playing at a 100-120 strike rate. So these are things that not everybody analyses. That’s why when you look at it, it looks low,” Rahul explained.

“Yes, it is something that I am working on. Obviously, the rules that have been defined to each player in the last 10-12 months have been, you know very clearly and the player understands what is expected out of them and everyone’s working towards it.”

KL Rahul has been in poor form with the bat since returning from an injury. In the recently concluded Asia Cup 2022, he scored just 132 runs in five matches at a poor strike rate of 122.22.

Meanwhile, the star opener said that he is feeling good and expressed excitement to participate in the upcoming three-match T20I series against Australia.

“I’m feeling good, obviously, it’s been a few games since I’ve come back after injury and getting that time in the middle was really important.

“So, the Asia Cup and going to Zimbabwe and getting a couple of things was really important and really crucial for me and yeah, I’m feeling good.

“Looking forward to the challenge against the Australian team and it’ll be fun to play back at home. It’s been a while for me so I’m looking forward to it,” he said.

Criticism happens every time – KL Rahul

Virat Kohli and Kl Rahul . PC- Getty — Virat Kohli and Kl Rahul. PC- Getty

During the press conference, KL Rahul was asked about the recent performances of the India National Cricket Team in the multi-nation tournaments, where the Men In Blue have indeed struggled.

He responded: “The most important thing for a player in that dressing room is what his captain, his coach and what his players think of him.

“Only we know what role is expected out of each person and everyone is trying to give their best and not every time will a player succeed. That is the kind of environment we’ve created where players are not afraid to make mistakes or fail. We work the hardest for this.

“Criticism happens every time. We criticise ourselves more than any of you do. We dream of winning; We are representing the country, we want to win the world cup all that is in our mind. When we don’t do well, it hurts us the most.

“It’s about what goes on in our team. We have a support staff and leader who not only appreciates when times are good but also in tough times when an individual has done well, they back us.”