It Is Important To Treat A Game As A Game - KL Rahul Speaks About His Mindset Which Keeps Him Calm
Updated - 25 Mar 2021, 07:51 PM
KL Rahul has had a roller-coaster of a time in international cricket: from being a bright prospect to getting ousted from the team, back to being an indispensable member of the side, then getting dropped after few failures, to returning to form – which apparently went away for just 4 matches – with a brilliant fifty.
KL Rahul announced his return to form by smashing 62* off 43 in the first ODI against England on Tuesday, after being dropped from the 5th T20I following his scores of 1,0,0, and 14. On the eve of the second ODI, the right-hander was asked about his mindset during his brief lean patch, and what helped him overcame it.
The 28-year-old said that he is a calm person naturally and respects the game; however, Rahul also believes that he shouldn’t burden himself for being out of form and treat the ‘game as a game’. The Punjab Kings skipper also credits his seniors in the team who have helped him keep a balanced head on his shoulders.
“I have always been calm, I’ve always tried to stay balanced. I have always told myself that I love this game, this game has been everything for me. Whoever I’m today is because of the game. But it is also important that you realise that you should have to treat a game as a game. That is one thing that I believe keeps you a lot calmer, it keeps you in a good frame of mind. Only if you are in a good frame of mind, you can be more consistent for the team and churn out good performances,” KL Rahul said in a press conference.
“In my growing years, I kept talking to myself (about staying calm and balanced). The more I have seen the game, with more experience, I learnt better. Whenever you talk to the senior players in the team, they always tell you to remain balanced in your good days and in your bad days,” he added.
Because I’m not too expressive people think I’m not passionate – KL Rahul
KL Rahul also feels that people have a misconception about him that he is not passionate enough because he is not over expressive or animated. He asserts that every person has a different personality and different way of reacting to situations. The wicket-keeper batsman is happy with who he vows to not change.
“I’m not a person who shows it, I’m not very expressive. People think, just because I’m quiet and don’t have too many expressions, that ‘may be he’s not passionate, may be he’s not aggressive’. Everybody is different. Everybody’s personality is different. Everyone has a different way of expressing themselves. This is who I’m, that is what I’ve always been and this is what I’ll continue to be,” Rahul stated.
India takes on Eoin Morgan’s team in the second ODI on Friday in Pune in a bid to take seal the ODI series as well after winning the Test and T20I series.
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India vs England 2021 Indian National Cricket Team KL Rahul Punjab Kings (PBKS)