Why does KL Rahul start slowly? Former India Test skipper explains KL Rahul’s batting approach in T20Is
Anil Kumble, KL Rahul (Image Credit: Twitter)
India vice-captain KL Rahul‘s batting approach in white-ball cricket has been under a lot of criticism in the last few years. Since the Indian T20 League 2020, he has been starting slowly at the top. However, one could reason that he was leading the Punjab which had a weak middle order. On the other hand, he has been doing the same while donning Indian colors.
Meanwhile, former India Test skipper Anil Kumble has revealed one of the conversations he had with Rahul during the latter’s stint with the Mohali-based side. Notably, Rahul and Kumble worked together for the team in seasons 2020 and 2021. The former India Test skipper has revealed that he used to urge Rahul to bat normally as he was the best player in the team.
“In the ITL it was a different conversation. All of us kept saying, look, you are the best player. Just go out and bat normally. From ball one, go hard, do what you are good out,” he said.
No bowler can keep KL Rahul quiet in the powerplay: Anil Kumble
The all-time fourth-highest wicket-taker in Tests added that no bowler is capable enough to keep Rahul at bay. However, the former also said that is important to understand that things can be different when the players enter the field.
“Especially in the powerplay, I don’t think any bowler can keep him quiet. But I think when he played franchise cricket, he felt that he needed to bat longer because of the lineup he had and he was captain. You can say what you want from the outside but you can’t control what happens on the field.”
“With the Indian team, it is quite different. I think his role is to just go out there and bat. When I was coach, I didn’t want that to change, I just wanted him to go and be what he is, dictate terms from ball one. I think he sort of switches on and switches for whatever reason. We saw in his last game for Punjab against Chennai where we had to get those runs and have a crack at the net run rate, we saw what he can do. He just smashed everyone and Chennai had some good international bowlers,” the legendary leg-spinner further pointed out.
