During the 2019 World Cup in England, Team India started their campaign with KL Rahul batting at No. 4. But the team management had to move Rahul to the top after Shikhar Dhawan got ruled out of the showpiece tournament due to a fractured thumb.
Rahul did a decent job in the World Cup, amassing 361 runs from 9 innings at an average of 45.12 with one hundred and two half-centuries.
After their semi-final exit from the mega event, the Indian team travelled to West Indies for six white-ball (3 T20Is and 3 ODIs) games and Rahul didn’t find a place in the squad.
Recalling the experience, Rahul said it was frustrating and he found comfort in Chris Gayle to get over the setback.
"I remember in 2019, I think we played the World Cup and right after it, we went to the West Indies for a series. I played the World Cup, I did decently well and then we went into the series and I got dropped. I was messaging him, he said 'Come by the pool. I'm having a drink'. It was his 300th game the next day so he was very happy and he had some friends over. So I went. I was by the pool. He came, sat with me, spoke to me that why are you not playing," Rahul told India actor, television and cricket presenter Gaurav Kapur on his famous YouTube Show 'Breakfast with Champions'.
"You know, I obviously was frustrated because I played the World Cup and I'm not playing this. Makes no sense. So, I was just talking to him and he's like 'See you can always say that you're not playing because of 100 other reasons but it's in your hands whether you play or not. If 70 is not enough, get 150. If you are getting 150, get 200 if that's not enough. That's how you need to look at things. If a 600-run IPL season is not enough, then get 800. Or like you're getting 50s, 60s in the World Cup, you should have converted that and gotten 100-120s. Then no one has the power to drop you'," he added.
KL Rahul has represented India in 42 ODIs so far, aggregating 1634 runs at 46.48 with 5 centuries and 10 fifties. The right-hander has 1831 T20I runs to his name from 56 games.
