The Indian cricketer, KL Rahul said he is relieved and elated that he has got an opportunity to play in Test cricket and get into competitive action in England. Rahul said he was getting frustrated when he was warming the bench in Test cricket despite traveling with the squad since the Australian tour in 2020. Rahul made his comeback to Test cricket for the first time since August 2019 when he opened the innings alongside Rohit Sharma in the recently-concluded first Test of a 5-match series against England in Nottingham.
KL Rahul made the most of the opportunity that came his way, top-scoring for India in the first innings with a solid 84. Even as India’s Big 3 – Virat Kohli (0), Cheteshwar Pujara (4), and Ajinkya Rahane (5) failed, Rahul kept the Indian innings afloat with a patient knock. Rahul was part of the squad for India’s memorable tour of Australia but he did not play the first three Tests. He had returned home after injuring his wrist during training ahead of the 4th Test
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KL Rahul was looked at as a middle-order wicketkeeper-batsman but injuries to Shubman Gill and Mayank Agarwal made the team management slot the Karnataka batsman as an opener along with Rohit.
After the first Test, KL Rahul said, “From the last 2-3 series (away vs Australia and vs England in India), I have been sitting outside. The team was doing really well and I was very happy to be part of the team and seeing how we were beating teams in India and then Australia. So it was great to be part of it, but also very frustrating that opportunities weren’t coming.”
He further added, “It was only practise, practise and practise and as a player you want to be in the middle and want to challenge yourself, so I kept waiting for my opportunity, so I am very happy that it came in England. I was just looking forward to it and I am happy that opportunity came and in the first match and I gave a good contribution for the team.”
Meanwhile, KL Rahul also expressed surprise at questions that were directed towards Jasprit Bumrah’s ‘comeback’. Bumrah had a poor outing in the World Test Championship final but he hit peak form again, picking up 9 wickes, including a 5-wicket haul, in the Nottingham Test.
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Kl Rahul explained, “Every time, in every game, in every condition he has proved himself and he is our number one bowler. We are happy that he is doing what he is (has) been doing since he started playing Test cricket. Wherever he has played, he has been a match-winner for us. We are happy that he has done once again, what he does best.”
