NEWS
Follow UsFor the longest time, KL Rahul was viewed as someone adept at the top of the batting order. However, that outlook has changed since his success at the One-Day International (ODI) level, where he has amassed 1259 runs while having a healthy average of 57.22, showcasing his worth in the middle-order.
While Rahul is already adept in his middle-order role at the ODI level, the 31-year-old admitted that he wouldn’t mind taking up the same role in the red-ball format as well.
"I don't know about all formats, right now my focus is on this ODI series. Yes, I'll be doing the same role. I'll be wicketkeeping and batting in the middle order. After that, yes, I would be happy to take up that role even in the Test matches,” Rahul spoke ahead of the first ODI between India and South Africa.
The 31-year-old, who has been dropped to the bench in the longest format, with the likes of Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal taking up his place, is ready to fight for a role in the middle-order.
Rahul insisted that he is open to ‘doing new roles’, especially with the national team searching for an able wicketkeeper in the prolonged absence of Rishabh Pant, who is still recovering from his accident.
"I've always been open to doing new roles and accepting whatever role the team wants me to perform," Rahul said. "So I'm happy to do whatever the management, coach and captain ask of me. If that's the role the team sees me in, I'm happy to do that."
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Over the last few months, Rahul has missed several clashes for the country, with injuries hampering his chances, and the Karnataka-born batter reckoned that playing consistently for India is the key.
"Yeah of course, I want to play for the country, I want to play as many games as I can," Rahul said. "Unfortunately I've missed a lot of cricket due to injuries. So yeah, I would like to make the most of my time and play as many games as I can whatever the role is.
"Whatever is expected out of me, I've done that throughout my career so far, I don't think that is going to change, whatever is expected of me. For me the team always comes first. When we started playing the game one of the first things that was taught to us was it's a team game.
While Rahul is expected to don his role as a middle-order batter in the ODI format, he reckoned that there are no ‘fixed positions’ in the current national team.
"It's a cliched line, but as you play more you understand no position is yours. But as you play more, you understand when it's a team game no position is yours. You have to be able to perform whatever the team requires. You have to be flexible, and adjust and do your best for the team."
India are without the services of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who have been rested for the white-ball leg of the series. Rahul insisted that in their absence, the youngsters would want to take up their chances to showcase their talent to the whole world.
"Nothing changes for us. Every time we represent the country, we want to play well and win. The guys that are here are all very deserving of their call-up to the national team. They've all performed really well and I trust each of them. The selectors have shown faith and given them this opportunity. So we trust all of them to do the job and compete really hard here and win the series."
"I don't think a lot will change in terms of of how we want to play ODI cricket," he said. "But there are a few new faces, so to expect them to play the role that Rohit Sharma played in the World Cup will be too soon. You have to make them feel comfortable. So there's no added pressure from our side.
"We need to focus on what's in front of us. How we played in the World Cup was really good, was very exciting. But we need to figure out here what works for us, what works for this Indian team in these conditions and try and adapt."
India kick-off the three-match ODI series at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, with an eye on trying out different combinations ahead of the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the United States of America.
