KL Rahul recently recalled a hilarious moment involving former India head coach Rahul Dravid during the 2023 Asia Cup that left both men laughing. The wicketkeeper-batter shared the story during the 2 Sloggers Podcast, explaining how a simple celebration after scoring a century against Pakistan turned into a funny misunderstanding.
Rahul had been out of action for several months due to a thigh injury sustained during IPL 2023. After an intense rehabilitation period, he made a roaring comeback to the Indian squad for the Asia Cup. In his very first match back, Rahul smashed a brilliant 111 off 106 balls against Pakistan in Colombo, partnering with Virat Kohli to put India in complete control. His emotional celebration, however, drew an unexpected reaction from coach Rahul Dravid.
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“I’ll tell you a story,” KL Rahul began. “I wasn’t even supposed to play that game. Shreyas Iyer was set to start, but he suffered a back spasm, so I got my chance. During rehab, every morning I’d tell myself, ‘I’ll be the best player in the world.’ When I reached my hundred, I lifted my bat but turned my back to the dressing room.”
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The gesture didn’t sit well with RahulDravid initially. “Rahul sir got a bit upset. He said, ‘Why did you turn your back on the dressing room?’ I told him, ‘No sir, I meant no disrespect. I had visualized this celebration for months during rehab — I even dreamed of a statue of myself celebrating like that!’” Rahul laughed.
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Dravid, known for his wit, couldn’t resist teasing him. “He said, ‘Statue tera? Mera nahi bana, tera statue?’ (I don’t have a statue, but you do?)” Rahul added, laughing at the memory.
That memorable match remains special for multiple reasons — Rahul’s comeback century, Kohli’s unbeaten 122, and India’s emphatic 228-run win over Pakistan, powered by Kuldeep Yadav’s stunning 5/25. Rahul’s story, however, captures the human side of cricket — moments of humor, resilience, and the priceless bond between a player and his mentor.
