On Sunday, the Indian opener, KL Rahul expressed that playing back-to-back international matches takes a toll on the body. Ahead of the five-match T20I series against New Zealand which India won 5-0, skipper Virat Kohli also criticized the scheduling of the team.
After winning the man of the series award after India maiden whitewash over the Kiwis, Rahul also shared his thoughts on the team’s ability to consistently produce eye-catching performances despite getting little time to recover, due to the tight scheduling. Ever since the Australia series at home, Rahul has been shouldering the responsibility of wicket-keeping.
India have played 11 matches in the last one month. Asked about the positives ahead of the T20 World Cup, Rahul said the team managed to win high-pressure games.
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The opener said, “Every time we have been challenged and pushed and played some really competitive teams. We have always stayed calm, that’s been the biggest takeaway. Previously we had a series where we would win the series and not be challenged. It’s phenomenal, it is a coach’s and captain’s dream, playing and working like this. We have a common goal as I said and we are working towards it.”
This is only the third instance when India have clean-swept the opponents in away T20I series and the first time in a five-match series.
Talking about the same during the post-match press conference, “There is no senior-junior in the dressing room, we have a common goal and that is to win together for the country and the team. Traveling away and winning a series 5-0 doesn’t happen too often. Obviously we have the confidence going into the ODIs, we have been doing well for the past couple of years. Recent form for 3-4 months has been great too, personally as well as a team, we have been doing well.”
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Rahul, who played a key role in India’s emphatic series win with 224 runs in five matches, said they have their eyes trained on the T20 World Cup in Australia. He also said he didn’t have to do much despite missing senior figures.
The Indian opener further added, “Everyone performed as a unit and we have always come out with the answers. The execution level is increasing and they are staying calm. Yuzvendra Chahal and Bumrah are senior bowlers and they have done it before, but Shardul, Saini and Sundar today, they did well and held their own. It is important to have that mindset in T20 cricket. Today too, without Virat, I couldn’t really do much behind the stumps.”
Now, the men in blue will be playing a three-match ODI series against the Kiwi with the first game scheduled to be played at the Seddon Park in Hamilton on Wednesday.
