Australia prevented India from achieving a rare whitewash in the ODI series by winning the final match in Rajkot with a 66-run victory, securing a 2-1 series result in India’s favor. The last ODI saw various experiments, given the unavailability of several players, and KL Rahul opened up about his experience batting lower in the order.
Although KL Rahul is typically an opener, he batted at number 5, with Washington Sundar and Rohit Sharma starting the innings for India. In a post-match discussion with JioCinema, KL Rahul shared his thoughts on batting lower in the order.
KL Rahul stated, “Batting at four and five doesn’t feel like a huge difference. But yes, having opened the batting all my life – dropping to No. 5 seemed very different. I have been given that role for the last couple of years, and I have played at that position for a long period of time.”
ALSO READ: Australia suffer Major setback as Ashton Agar ruled out of ODI World Cup with calf injury
KL Rahul acknowledged that this shift required adjustments both technically and mentally, especially as he had spent most of his career as an opener. He mentioned studying videos of successful number 4 and 5 batsmen to understand their approach and decision-making processes, which helped him adapt to his new role effectively.
Reflecting on the team’s recent performances, KL Rahul spoke about the significance of the Asia Cup and the series against Australia.
“The last few weeks have put everyone in a similar mindset. The Asia Cup was really important for us, every game was a must-win game, and we were playing very competitive games. Similarly, during this series, we played a very good Australian side, and they have had the edge over us in India in the last couple of years.”
ALSO READ: Court Finds Danushka Gunathilaka Not Guilty In Sexual Assault Case
He emphasized that the team was assigned specific roles and executed them effectively, leading to their success in both tournaments. Rahul expressed optimism about the team’s future and their ability to continue improving collectively.
