ICC World Cup 2019 | Time off from game gave me time to reflect on myself, says KL Rahul
Indian batsman KL Rahul said that the suspension enforced on him by the BCCI gave him a chance to take a break from cricket which has helped him bounce back. He went on to say that he used the opportunity to work on his technique before playing in the IPL which helped him regain his confidence.
After a controversial interview was aired in January, which portrayed him in bad light, KL Rahul was sent home in the middle of an Australian tour and was suspended from all cricketing activities, a ban which was lifted just two weeks later. While Rahul admitted that he would rather have not been suspended, he managed to make good use of the time off and rediscovered his touch.
“The time off from game does give a player opportunity to reflect on himself and it wasn’t any different for me. I spent some time with friends and family. It was important as I have been on the road for a long time. Given the situation, that’s not how I would have liked to get some time off but anyway I tried to make the best use of it,” he quoted.
Since his return, Rahul has played well in some India A games and was back to his best in the recently concluded IPL, scoring 438 runs at an average of 54. Rahul admitted that his exclusion from the playing XI gave him time to work with the coaches and improve his game.
“There were a few things about my batting and my technique that I needed to fix. I worked with my coach back home in Bengaluru and India A games gave me a bit of opportunity. Like speaking to Rahul Dravid about mental preparation and how to handle low confidence and poor form. The best way to get back to scoring runs is to find that form in the middle and I got that opportunity. From there, it just carried on. I was very hungry to come back and score runs for whatever team I played,” he said.
On Tuesday, he scored a brilliant 108 runs off just 99 balls against Bangladesh in a warm-up game to help India register a comprehensive victory, making everyone believe his focus was back where it should be.
“What’s gone is gone and the focus is always on cricket. I am really happy with how I have managed to bounce back. IPL gave me a lot of confidence and really happy that I could carry that confidence here today (Tuesday),” Rahul told the media.
India is blessed with a treasure of talent when it comes to the top order, and Rahul was one of the contenders for the number four spot in the starting lineup. After his knock against The Tigers, there seems little doubt over him having sealed his spot in the team, though the batting position is not one he has frequently batted throughout his career.
“Every batsman, who has played at this level knows how to handle pressure and responsibility given to him. It’s a team game where everybody is prepared for the last couple of years so that any role can be given, come a big game. So all of us have prepared in that way and nothing that is given to any individual will come off as a surprise,” Rahul remarked.
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