Taking responsibility comes naturally to KL Rahul, who said he is not feeling any more pressurised on being appointed captain of the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) for the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
After trading away their previous skipper Ravichandran Ashwin to Delhi Capitals (DC), KXIP announced Rahul, the wicketkeeper batsman, who has been with the side for the last two seasons, as the new leader in hope to lift their maiden title.
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“I always played the game thinking as if I’m the captain. At the ground, I always think of what I would have done in a particular situation," he told The Indian Express.
“Whom I would have bowled in a situation? I was always proactive in my head and it’s just an extension of that. I know it will be harder than I think. I am not going in with any expectations, like I have played cricket so many years."
“I will get on the field and try to make decisions in the moment. You can’t plan too much because it could be confusing,” he added.
Further on his approach to captaining KXIP, the 28-year-old said, "I look at it is as a challenge. We are a way better team than what the results show. People’s perceptions only change when we start winning games."
“It’s a newish line-up, we have impact players, a lot of skill players and a young new captain. We will not carry the baggage of previous years, we will learn from it, try to correct our mistakes. And what will happen will happen,” Rahul added.
Having arrived in UAE for the IPL 2020, due to start on September 19, KXIP players are going through necessary quarantine period as are the rest of the teams before the crucial training phase begins.
Rahul said he and his team are unfazed by the fact that there wouldn't be crowds cheering at stadiums amid COVID-19 pandemic. They're just desperate to step on the field again and perform to try and lift the coveted trophy for their team at the final on November 10.
“Honestly, we are not worried now about the bio-bubble or lack of spectators. We have to adapt to the situation and it’s a good story to tell 15-20 years down the line. We need to utilise the three-week training period there well," he signed off.
