My Batting Position Will Depend On The Format: KL Rahul

Stylish Indian batsman and the current first-choice wicketkeeper in limited-overs cricket, KL Rahul, believes that his position in the batting order during the tour of Australia will depend on which format that the Men in Blue are playing.

Ever since KL Rahul has donned the keeping gloves for India in ODI cricket, he has batted at No.5, a position at which he found considerable success against Australia and New Zealand earlier this year. In the T20I format, however, Rahul has opened the innings.

The stylish batsman said that he is happy to play whatever role the team gives him besides adding that he has really enjoyed the role of wicket-keeper batting at No.5 in the 50-over game. He also said that given the fact that this is the first time that he has been given an extended run in ODI cricket, he is really pleased to contribute to the teams’ cause.

“My batting position will depend on the format I am playing and what the team wants from me and what combination sits better, the last ODI series we played, I batted at number five and I kept the wickets so yeah, it is a role that I enjoyed and I am happy to play whatever role the team gives me,” KL Rahul said in a virtual conference as quoted by ANI on Wednesday.

“Look I haven’t played a lot of 50-over cricket for a continued period of time, though I have been a part of the Indian team for a few years now, I have not gotten a continued run in the 50-over format like this, it feels good that I am contributing for the team,” he added.

 

‘I learned to stay in the moment in the IPL’- KL Rahul

KL Rahul will be coming into the international season on the back of the stupendous form in the IPL, where he emerged as the leading run-scorer. Apart from being the spearhead of the batting-unit, Rahul performed the dual role of being a wicketkeeper as well as a captain of KXIP, a responsibility, he admitted was challenging at the beginning before he started enjoying it.

“I mean I did get a little bit of feeler with the IPL, I had to play similar roles there as well, it was challenging and it was new, but I got used to that role and I started enjoying it. Hopefully, I will continue the same here, Virat will always be there for the boys and that will make my job a little easier. It is a very proud moment, and hopefully, I can keep on putting similar performances,” KL Rahul added.

Rahul further said that he learned how to switch-off and switch-off as a wicketkeeper and captain according to the situation, something he feels will keep him in good stead in the future.

“Look, I learnt to stay in the moment in the IPL, when I am wicket-keeping for those last 3-4 seconds when the bowler is running in, I learnt to switch on and not focus on the leadership part. It will be important for me going forward, it is important to start well in the white-ball leg, Australia is a country where we have enjoyed competing,” added Rahul.

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