The Rajkot ODI hero, KL Rahul always loves to pick the brains of modern-day great Virat Kohli, apart from watching videos of Steve Smith and Kane Williamson. Batting at number five, Rahul played added 80 runs off just 52 balls and helped India to register a total of  340/6 against Australia in the second ODI, which the hosts won by 36 runs to level the series 1-1 in Rajkot on Friday.

Talking about his knock during the post-match press conference, Rahul said, “I just spoke a lot more to middle-order batsmen and watched a lot of videos. I spoke a lot to Virat (Kohli) and watched a lot of videos of Ab (De Villiers) and Steve Smith for that matter and how they build their innings. Kane Williamson is somebody I’ve tried to go back and watch some of his videos and see how he build his innings and how they play in certain situations.”

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The Karnataka also feels tat batting at different positions has only made him a better batsman. He feels that he has been a decent form and a new role in the team has been a blessing. Raul loves to open the bat but he reckons that a batman learns more while batting at 3, 4, 5. 

Meanwhile, Rahul is also relishing the challenge of wicket-keeping in the last two ODIs. As regular ‘keeper Rishabh Pant was concussed in the first ODI at Wankhede, Rahul kept wickets in Mumbai and Rajkot. 

Rahul added, “It is (a challenge) even for me. Sometimes I couldn’t pick Kuldeep (Yadav), and (Ravindra) Jadeja, at the pace he bowls, is just pretty difficult, it’s not what I get in my first-class team. I’m just enjoying what’s thrown at me and trying to do the best I can. And for somebody who is not a regular ‘keeper, that can be pretty hard. We have seen (that) for guys who are regular ‘keepers, he is still a nightmare to keep.”

Gradually learning to fit into multiple roles as per team’s requirement, Rahul has also drawn comparisons with the legendary Rahul Dravid and the young batsman says it’s an honor. Like Dravid, he has played in the middle-order and has kept wickets too. Dravid had kept wickets in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

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Talkinfg about the comparison, Rahul concluded, “It’s great to be compared with someone like him. I had this comparison for a long time when growing up and playing as well. I have spent a lot of time with talking about cricket, talking about batting and he comes from the same state (Karnataka) as well. I have the opportunity to go to him or give him a call and talk to him about batting or anything about cricket. So he’s been more than welcoming.”