KL Rahul was in a great form for India before the COVID-19 lockdown but he is not sure if he could replicate the same after a seventh-month break from cricket. Rahul will also have the novel burden of captaincy on his shoulders in this impending IPL. After letting Ravichandran Ashwin leave at the end of last year’s IPL, the captaincy of KXIP was handed to KL Rahul.
The 13th edition of IPL was originally scheduled to kick off from March 29. Earlier, it was postponed indefinitely after April 15 due to the spike in coronavirus cases in the nation. The postponing of the World Cup to 2021 gave the IPL a window to be conducted in September. KXIP’s squad have already reached the venue and started training, players from Australia and England will be joining on 17th of September after culmination of the bilateral series.
I am not sure if my batting form is going to be the same as it was seven months ago: KL Rahul
The 28-year-old Indian stalwart thinks it is a fresh start for everyone after a long gap and the past form won’t matter. He says he is not sure of his batting form having not played in any tournament after the break. Rahul admitted that they are all nervous for the IPL, but he reckons it is just a part of the sport.
“Firstly, I think we are starting fresh. I don’t think what has happened seven months prior will matter now. We are all coming into the tournament with not [having played] a lot of cricket. So, I am not sure if my batting form is going to be the same as it was seven months ago,” KL Rahul told IANS.
“And in a tournament like IPL which is huge, I would be lying if I say all of us are not nervous at all. We are, but that’s the challenge of sport. No one expected this to happen,” he added.
Does it make me conscious? I don’t think so: KL Rahul on expectations of filling MS Dhoni’s shoes for Team India
KL Rahul was given the opportunity to don gloves for Team India and bat in the middle-order in the ODI’s at the start of 2020 and he showed some stellar performances. He says the expectations are for everyone playing for Team India and not just him, and he doesn’t feel conscious by the expectations. He also mentioned, no one can fill MS Dhoni’s void in Team India. MS Dhoni retired from international cricket recently.
“Yes the expectations are always there from not just me but all the XI that represent the country and all 15 guys who are playing in the team. Does it make me conscious? I don’t think so. Not so far at least,” KL Rahul said.
“For now, my focus is solely on the IPL and getting some cricket under me. It’s a place nobody can ever fill in Indian cricket. That’s something I genuinely feel. Whatever role is given to me, it excites me. I am not very conscious about it,” he added.
KXIP will look to seal their first IPL title this year with a well-balanced team they have. KXIP started both 2018 and 2019 campaigns strong but lost track in the later stages and failed to book a place in the playoffs. The team has already hit the training ground after finishing the mandatory quarantine.