“I have been assigned this role by the team management,” KL Rahul opens up on his middle-order batting and wicket-keeping role

The Indian cricket team are currently in Bangladesh as they are playing out the One Day International series. The visitors surprisingly have chosen KL Rahul to bat in middle order and also keep wickets. The Karnataka based senior cricketer shared how the management wants him to take up dual roles which are batting in No.4 and also keeping wickets in ODIs.

India started the series on the wrong foot as they lost the first ODI against Bangladesh in Mirpur. The visitors batted first and could only score 186 where KL Rahul played a gem of an innings and was the only player to score a fifty on that pitch. Albeit it came on a losing cause, Rahul looked in great touch and was sublime in his stroke making. He showed aggression, technique and ability to select the balls that were needed to be dispatched. He scored 73 off 70 deliveries and once he got out, India lost their way and collapses even before reaching 200.

Rahul spoke at the post match press conference and opened up on his role with the team in ODIs. The wicketkeeper batter was also surprised at Rishabh Pant’s mysterious release as he feels that the medical team will be able to tell the reason for his release. “We have not played many ODIs in the past 6-7 months, but if you look from 2020-21, I have kept wickets and batted at four. I have been assigned this role by the team. I don’t exactly know the reason for Pant’s release. The medical team will be able to tell why Pant was released,” KL Rahul stated.

KL Rahul shared how he has been able to replicate his form in the nets to a proper match as he felt that whatever shot he played came off in Mirpur. He looked in complete control on a pitch that was not easy to bat on. However his only regret was that he should have stayed longer and guided the total to 230-240 which would have been trickier for the hosts.

“It was just one of those days where I was timing the ball better than everyone else. Every shot that I played and the options I took worked for me today. I have been working on it in the last couple of net sessions in Bangladesh. I tried to challenge myself on this pitch, and I am pleased with my inning. Towards the end, I could’ve stayed longer and taken our score to 230-240. I fancied getting there,” KL Rahul opened up.

Bangladesh were exceptional with bat and ball, as they restricted India to a very meagre total and then put up a valiant chase. Mehidy Hassan alongwith Mustafizur Rahman stitched a 51 run partnership for the last wicket to script a great win in a close duel.