Although he has been picked in the squad as a reserve opener, KL Rahul on Wednesday (May 22) made it clear that he is ready to bat at any position in the upcoming ODI World Cup.
“Of course, it is a no-brainer. It is a job for your country and your team expects you to do it, you have to do it. Anybody will do it. There is no competition here. I can’t break my head about it. If it is a responsibility, I will do it for my country. Everybody will be keen to play and whatever role is given, we will all try to do our best. The World Cup is a big event,” he said in an exclusive interview with Sportstar.
Even though Rahul hasn’t been a regular feature in the 50-over format, his class and great form will be crucial to the side. The right-hander finished the just-concluded IPL season as the second-highest run getter, amassing 593 runs from 14 innings with 1 ton and 6 half-centuries.
Reflecting on his IPL 2019 campaign, KL said: “Not much changes actually [from international cricket]. It is about reading the situation, sense what a par score is and to get there with an additional five or 10 runs more so that there is some cushion for the bowlers. That has been the plan, and we communicate in the middle after playing a couple of overs. It is conveyed to the rest of the team. As a batting unit, we take it from there. We can’t go in without a set plan. You can plan for some conditions, such as Chennai, but otherwise, you don’t know what the conditions will offer.”
Asked if opening along with the legendary Chris Gayle improved his game, Rahul commented: “It is so good to open the batting with somebody like Chris, somebody who has achieved everything as a batsman, as a team player, won World Cups [T20], etc. Our chats revolve around holding our shape and timing the ball well. He tells me not to hit the ball too hard, that’s usually the talk. And the basic strategies as to which bowler I should target and the bowler he would target. I know him for some years now, we enjoy each other’s company.”
During the England tour last year, KL Rahul had struck a century in the first T20I at Old Trafford. Although the format is different, he is quite familiar with the conditions.
“You can take some cues as to what kind of shots you can play on the English wickets; the technical adjustments that you need to make and be careful about. I have a fair idea of what I need to do with my game or how I need to work with what I have. Hopefully, I will make the right judgement and the right call. When the opportunity arises, I will deliver for Team India,” he said.
Rahul went through a dreadful time following his appearance in the popular TV show 'Koffee with Karan' earlier this year. He appeared on the show alongside teammate Hardik Pandya wherein they created a storm by making "misogynistic" and "sexist" comments. After receiving flak from various quarters, the duo was suspended pending an inquiry by BCCI and called back from the tour Down Under.
Following the turn of events, KL Rahul started to doubt himself as a person but the fighter in him did not give up. The 27-year-old was asked play for India A in the home series against England Lions and he was back amongst the runs. In the following T20Is against Australia, he amassed the scores of 50 and 47 and carried that form into IPL 2019.
Sharing his experience of working with Dravid for India A, he said: “It was great with all that was happening around [my life] at that time. It gives you space, lets you think, breathe and focus on yourself. It was nice for me to go back there and think about cricket and nothing else. It helped me score runs and come back to the Indian team. I am happy with where I am right now.”
