KL Rahul says he doesn't at all mind keeping as well as open the batting for India in white-ball cricket; he is, in fact, "loving" the dual responsibility given to him by the Indian team management at the expense of young Rishabh Pant.
Rahul's latest performance in the enhanced role saw him leave nothing behind the stumps before going on to score a majestic 27-ball 56 in India's six-wicket win over New Zealand in the tour's first T20I in Auckland this Friday (January 24).
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"I'm quite honestly loving it," he told reporters after the game. "At the international stage, it might seem very new and it might seem like I've never kept. (But) I've kept for my IPL franchise for the last 3-4 years, and I've kept for my first-class team as and when there is an opening. I've still stayed in touch with wicket keeping."
"I enjoy staying behind the stumps and it also gives me a great idea about how the pitch is playing, and I can pass on that message to the bowlers and the captains with field-sets and everything."
"As a keeper, that's also your responsibility to stay active and pass the message on to your captain as to what lengths are better and what I feel we can do better," he added.
"As a batsman as well, after keeping for 20 overs, especially you get a fair idea on what are the good shots on this kind of wicket and so I'm enjoying the responsibility and so far so good for me."
Rahul then heaped effusive praise over his teammate Shreyas Iyer, who, after he departed, ensured the team stays on top of the opposition in the run-chase by playing a superb innings that closed out the game at the end.
"It was a fantastic finish," he said. "We have seen for a while that in crunch situations we have lacked someone who can to take the team through and win. But the way Shreyas, Shivam (Dube) and even Manish (Pandey) started striking the ball way from the moment they went in. When you're chasing over 200, you need a boundary in every over."
"It was good to see that whoever was walking out was doing so with the intent to do that. And the execution was very impressive today. That is very heartening to see. And the way Shreyas finished it off, the way he celebrated very calmly after reaching his half-century, and he finished the game and then celebrated."
"The responsibility of being an IPL captain, he has understood how to finish the games. He showed that responsibility in the last ODI too and here too. Those are great signs for us."
Besides Rahul and Iyer, Jasprit Bumrah and Yuzvendra Chahal also contributed towards the Indian win by delivering economical spells on a high-scoring ground and ensured the team was chasing at least 20 runs less than what New Zealand once looked like posting.
"As a bowling unit, we have a fair idea of what lines and lengths we have to bowl. Change of pace will be very important," Rahul said. "As a batting unit, the dimensions and shape of the ground will be a key point for us. To understand the areas to target mostly that's it."
"It's our first game so, obviously we'll get better with the lengths we bowl as a bowling unit and fielding also, it's a differently-shaped ground. We are not used to grounds like this, so it's a challenge for the boys."
(Inputs from PTI)
