‘You’re a key player and I support you’- Former Kiwi player believes KL Rahul needs to ‘unlock’ to get back to form

KL Rahul has had a difficult time for India in the 20-20 World Cup. Having played his first T20I of the year after battling a couple of injuries, India took a gamble on KL Rahul during the Asia Cup. While it appeared to be paying off at the time, with the batter scoring back-to-back half-centuries against South Africa at home earlier this month, the strategy appears to be backfiring in the World Cup.

Rahul’s place in the playing XI is being called into question after scoring 2, 9 and 9 against Pakistan, the Netherlands, and South Africa in the first three matches. Despite this struggle, Rahul has found support from former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, who has worked closely with the India opener during the Indian T20 League.

Fleming, like many others, is perplexed as to why Rahul isn’t exploding. Using the Indian T20 League as an example, the former Black Caps captain believes that one way to ensure Rahul returns to his best is to assure him that he will not be replaced.

Something just has to click: Stephen Fleming

“I don’t know what unlocks KL Rahul. I remember at IPL seasons where he stuttered this way through and then we copped him once, the team – his franchise side – had been knocked out the tournament and he played one of the most unbelievable innings to get a hundred. You just look at it in just absolute awe, wondering ‘Where has this been?’. Something just has to click on unlock or released to get him going. Maybe it’s that fear of failure just rip into it… the confidence that you’re not going to be dropped for the rest of the tournament,” Stephen Fleming said on ESPNCricinfo.

“I’m locking him in. I’m just saying, ‘Mate, you’re in for the run. You’ve proven how good a player you can be. I’m going to give you the confidence to say ‘You’ve got the remainder of the tournament to play. Play however you want, but I’m not dropping you. You’re a key player and I support you. If that can unlock him, then that would be great. It could go a long way in us winning the competition. So that would be my message,” he added.