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India’s final bilateral collection earlier than the pandemic-induced break in February had KL Rahul donning the wicketkeeper’s gloves in the ODIs and T20Is in opposition to New Zealand.
Prior to that, captain Virat Kohli had in contrast the 28-year-old’s stability behind the stumps with the influence that Rahul Dravid had had when he rediscovered himself as a keeper underneath Sourav Ganguly.
“It definitely (KL as keeper) allows us to play an extra batsman which strengthens our batting massively…” Kohli had mentioned then. “If you look at the 2003 World Cup where Rahulbhai started keeping, the balance became different because you could play an extra batter and guys at the top could really play positive cricket.”
With MS Dhoni formally retiring from worldwide cricket on August 15, the race for a long-term wicketkeeper in India’s limited-overs groups now has three prime candidates—Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson.
Going solely by batting expertise, Rahul has the edge in that race. The Indian Premier League, beginning September 19 in UAE, could become a testing floor for the Karnataka batsman’s endurance behind the wickets; he is not going to solely lead Kings XI Punjab however will even be their wicketkeeper like in the 2019 version.
Rahul shrugs off the thought that there’s strain on him to step up as Dhoni’s successor.
“Expectations are always there, not only from me but from all the XI who represent the country. It doesn’t make me conscious. Not so far, at least. Again for now, my focus is solely on the IPL and getting some cricket under me. It (Dhoni’s role) is a shoe or a place that nobody can ever fill in Indian cricket. Challenges excite me. Whatever role is given to me I want to do my best,” Rahul mentioned from Dubai, the place he’s at the moment with KXIP.
Rahul, who has performed 36 Tests, 32 ODIs and 42 T20Is, mentioned kind earlier than the pandemic struck could not matter since this is a contemporary begin for all gamers.
“Players will be nervous, anxious after coming from a long break,” he mentioned. “These three weeks of training will be the time build up the skill. What has happened seven months prior will not matter now. Everybody is coming with a not a lot of cricket. The form or the batting form, I am not sure if it’s going to be same as what it was seven months ago. I would be lying if I say we are not nervous at all. No one expected this to happen. But I am looking forward to the responsibility. I have always enjoyed the leadership role, so I am quite excited.”
As KXIP captain, Rahul has the onerous activity of making an attempt to information his group to their maiden IPL title. Observing his compatriots in addition to opponents, he mentioned, helps him settle into his new function.
“Having the opportunity to play under them (Kohli and Dhoni) is great learning. They lead the team differently but they always want to push the team. I also want use the same approach with my team. You learn a lot watching the likes of Rohit (Mumbai Indians captain). Guys like Kane Williamson. Hopefully, it is all stored in the back of my head,” he mentioned.
In the UAE, the place the matches will likely be performed at three venues—Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi—there may be hypothesis that the pitches would possibly flip gradual with overuse. Even with big-hitters like Chris Gayle in KXIP, for whom circumstances don’t appear to matter, they might need to rethink their batting technique, Rahul mentioned.
“Overall, if it’s a slow wicket, the approach will have to be different. As a batting unit, we’ll try to bring down the target of the first innings score from maybe 180-90 to between 160-170. And try to build from there,” he mentioned. “Second half (of the IPL) the pitches will be slower. We will set our team combination likewise.”
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