Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) has put faith on KL Rahul as captain to have a breakthrough season with the bat and while leading the side, and subsequently break the team's longstanding trophy jinx at the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in UAE.
Backing his skipper to do so, KXIP batsman Karun Nair said that his Karnataka mate has all the leadership qualities required. Karun said Rahul maintains a calm head in pressure situations, which shall work well for a side often seen losing close encounters in the history of the league.
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"As you said, I have known Rahul for a long time. All of us have grown up together and we know each other really well. He is someone who loves to be the best of his ability at all times. That is a trait that every leader needs to have," Karun told Times Now.
"He is someone who likes to push himself and inspires people around him by his work ethics. I am sure he has all the necessary tools to captain us in this year's IPL. We will go a long way in the upcoming tournament."
"In addition, he is generally very calm under pressure and never gets flustered by any hype or intense situation. In the one game that he did captain the international team (during Team India's bowling in fifth and final T20I versus New Zealand early this year), so all that will help him," he added.
Personally as well, the IPL 2020 is of greater importance for Karun, who is hoping to make his India comeback. The right-hand batsman had a stellar beginning to his Test career back in 2016, when he became only the second Indian to score a triple century after Virender Sehwag. However, a loss of form thereafter meant that he could only add three more Test caps to his tally after that innings.
"I don't think it is too much of a tag. It is definitely not a burden. It is, in fact, something which I can look upon and always go back and feel proud of," he said of his 303* in Chennai against England. "It is something that is never going to go away from me, so you need to look only at the positives."
"(On being repeatedly asked about it since a comeback is long due) Honestly, the comeback has not happened and I have not got many chances from thereon. But for that to happen, whenever I have come back to domestic cricket, I have not been consistent enough to put up my hand and say that 'I need to be playing in the XI'."
"It is important for me to consistently score runs at domestic cricket. Selection is not in one's control, so I have to pounce on every opportunity and make them count big time," he added.
Karun also talked about the influence of Rahul Dravid, the former India batsman and now NCA head, a position he was elevated to last year following a term as coach of India 'A' and U-19 teams.
"Dravid is a legend of the game," he said. "He still inspires and makes others follow him till date. What he does really well is that he knows how to manage different personalities. He keeps the environment really chilled out and looks after the youngsters. He lets each individual be themselves, go out there and express themselves and never believes in holding back anyone from playing their natural game."
"Even I felt nervous while being coached by him initially. But he makes sure all players are made comfortable when they first join the team. He is someone you can call anytime or go to his room for anything," Karun added.
