IND vs NZ: KL Rahul Has Really Kept Superbly In World Cup 2023 And Then Batted Really Well - Rahul Dravid

Team India head coach Rahul Dravid praised KL Rahul for his performance behind the stumps in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023. Rahul Dravid stated the challenges faced by KL Rahul in his dual role as a wicketkeeper and a batter, drawing from his own experience.

KL Rahul had to take on the role of wicketkeeper in the absence of Rishabh Pant. The right-handed batter returned to the team during the Asia Cup after a prolonged injury layoff and was sensational with the bat. He also grabbed some stunning catches as a wicketkeeper.

KL Rahul Has Kept A Little Bit More Than I Have – Rahul Dravid

Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Rahul Dravid praised KL Rahul for his excellent wicketkeeping in the tournament and highlighted his impressive batting, particularly in the first game.

“It’s certainly not easy and I think he (KL Rahul) is doing a fantastic job of it. I thought Rahul’s really kept superbly in this tournament and then batted really well whenever he’s got the opportunity to do that, especially in the first game. But yeah, I think it is challenging, because for someone like him who, and having had that experience myself, he’s not someone who keeps regularly at all,” Dravid said.

“He’s probably kept a little bit more than I have. As a youngster, he kept probably up to his under-19 days, and he’s kept in a few T20 games, as well for Karnataka and all that,” Dravid added.

KL Rahul Couldn’t Keep For A While – Rahul Dravid

Rahul Dravid explained that KL Rahul’s role as a wicketkeeper-batter was challenging, especially given his four to five-month injury layoff.

“So, he kept a little bit more than I did, but certainly not easy, considering he was also out with injury for four or five months. When we first decided that he would keep and we wanted to have that kind of option with him as one of the options of being able to keep in and bat in the middle order and we thought we would build him up to this tournament by giving him game time and building him up. But unfortunately, due to his injury, he actually couldn’t keep for a while,” he further added.

Rahul will be next seen in action when the Rohit Sharma-led team takes on New Zealand at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on Sunday, October 22.

Also read: IND vs NZ: Watch- Indian Dressing Room Explodes As Fielder Of The Match Award Tussle Intensifies Between KL Rahul And Ravindra Jadeja