'It's unfortunate that...' - KL Rahul delivers bold verdict on India's chances at T20 World Cup 2024
Published - 13 Jun 2024, 05:25 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:13 AM
Indian wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul shared his perspective on the Rohit Sharma-led team's chances to secure the coveted trophy in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. KL Rahul urged the fans to support the team game by game instead of increasing expectations of winning the trophy in the ICC tournament.
KL Rahul opened the batting for the Indian team in the last editions of the tournament in 2021 and 2022. However, the right-handed batter failed to make it to the squad for the T20 World Cup 2024. The selectors preferred Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson as the wicketkeeper-batters in the squad for the event.
Rahul was also not included in the reserves for the ongoing World Cup. He last played a T20I match during India's loss to England in the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final. He boasts a decent T20I record with 2,265 runs in 72 matches at an average of 37.75 and a strike rate of 139.13, including centuries and 22 fifties.
Reduce The Pressure On Them - KL Rahul
Speaking to Times Now, KL Rahul emphasized the team's consistent hard work and preparation to continually improve. Rahul highlighted the need to reduce pressure and allow the players to enjoy each game of cricket.
"As a player, I have felt this and now as a viewer and someone who loves Indian cricket, I will say this that I don't understand why the minute tournament starts everyone just jumps to win the trophy. Why can't we take it one game at a time and support our team and try and reduce the pressure on them? Let them enjoy playing every game of cricket," Rahul said.
"The team, you know really works hard, not just when the World Cup starts, but the preparation starts much before, there is so much that happens within the team and the players try so very hard through the years, through every tournament and season to keep getting better," he added.
They Still Found Ways To Win Games - KL Rahul
The 32-year-old expressed that the team's primary goal remains winning a World Cup. Rahul also acknowledged India's ICC trophy drought for such a long period. He praised the team for overcoming challenging conditions, stating that they are finding ways to win matches.
"The only goal we have every day is to win a World Cup for our country and it's just unfortunate that we haven't been able to do it for such a long period, there are many reasons for that, but I don't think effort or commitment is one of them so I mean we should be supporting them. We should just take it one game at a time and they look like they are in good rhythm. They're playing in some difficult conditions. They still found ways to win games, which is very good and important, and will take a lot of confidence from it, and they keep getting better and better," Rahul further stated
The Rohit Sharma-led team secured three consecutive victories in the group stage of the T20 World Cup 2024. The Men in Blue defeated Ireland in their tournament opener and then beat Pakistan and the United States of America. India became the first team from Group A to secure their berth in the Super 8s.
The inaugural T20 World Cup champions will take on Canada in their final group stage match at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Lauderhill, Florida, on Saturday, June 15. Following the match, the team will head to the Caribbean Islands for Super 8 matches in the World Cup.
