Indian opener KL Rahul admitted that as a team it was normal to make mistakes and the Asia Cup 2022 was a good learning for Team India ahead of the T20 World Cup in Australia.
With Rohit Shama opting to sit out of an inconsequential contest against Afghanistan, Rahul took on the captain’s role and led them to a massive 101-run win in the final match of the Super 4 round of the tournament.
“As a team, we are always looking to get better at every aspect of the game. Individually, there is a lot of time spent with the coaches and seeing what things we can get better at. What are things we need to improve, the skills we need to have to be a successful team in Australia,” Rahul said during a post-match press conference.
“I don’t think as a team we are looking to be a perfect team. It's about getting the job done. Rohit as a captain always talks about finding a way to get the job done. We are on that path. We are on that journey. We will make mistakes. This tournament (Asia Cup) was a good learning for us.”
‘Trying Ways to Challenge Ourselves’
Rahul further added that the players and team management were trying different ways to challenge themselves as individuals and as a unit ahead of the World Cup Down Under.
“We were challenged to bat first. We have seen it in Dubai. We have seen last time as well in the World Cup (2021) that the stats suggest the team that bats second wins more games. We went today and we wanted to challenge ourselves by batting first,” Rahul explained.
“Like I said these are the things we talk about and analyse and give ourselves that opportunity to be in the middle. Put ourselves in those uncomfortable positions. That’s what we have done in the last three-four months.”
‘Good Opportunity in the Middle’
Rahul mentioned that the tournament offered him some opportunity to be in the middle and get back his rhythm after being out of the side for almost two-three months due to injuries and Covid-19 related complications.
“For me, workload is not a huge question mark. It's just that I am coming back from almost two-and-a-half-three months' leave away from the game. It's just about getting more games, more game-time. Only that can make me confident about my body, my game, and my batting,” he said.
“So, it was important I play enough games before we go to Australia and start our World Cup campaign. Happy to have these few games. Before we got to Australia, we have a couple of more series at home.”
‘Everyone Has to Wait for Their Time’
On Ravi Bishnoi fitting the scheme of things in India’s playing XI, Rahul opined that the young leg-spinner has performed well whenever he has received a chance but added that every player must wait for his time.
“Against Pakistan, he obviously bowled well. Even before this, whether it be in West Indies or Sri Lanka series, I don’t exactly recall. Whenever he has received an opportunity, he has done well,” Rahul said.
“He is a youngster who is promising and if you see he has spent some time with the team. That means that the team management and overall, the team has believed that Ravi could be a match winner for us.”
“But everyone has to wait for their time. Yuzvi (Yuzvendra Chahal) has been a matchwinner for us for a long time. We want to recognise that as a team and give players who've done well for the team that cushion and comfort.,” the Indian opener added.
“If one or two games don't go well it doesn’t mean you are a bad player, or your skills are less. It can happen to everybody and all of us have experienced that. We in the team, just don’t analayse by stats. We back players and that has been the clear message,” Rahul explained.
So Then Should I Sit Out?
Meanwhile, Rahul was a bit taken aback when asked if Virat Kohli, who struck his maiden T20I century during Asia Cup match against Afghanistan, should continue to bat as an opener going into World Cup alongside Rohit Sharma.
The question was loaded because if Kohli opens the batting, it would mean that Rahul, whose T20 batting approach is already under the scanner, would have to sit out.
"Toh kya mai khud baith jaun? (So then should I sit out?)," a perplexed Rahul, obviously not one bit amused, counter questioned. The Indian vice-captain firmly believes that Kohli is not dependent on opening slot to get a huge score.
"You get confidence if you play 2-3 innings, really happy that he could play that way. You all know Virat Kohli, you have been watching him for so many years, it is not like he will only score centuries if he opens the batting, if he bats at No 3, he can then also score centuries. It is all about roles and what role a certain player has," he added.
But no one can discount how the team gets a boost when their best batter scores runs.
"Obviously, Virat scoring runs is a huge bonus for the team, and the way he played against Afghanistan, I know he is very very pleased.”
"He has been working on his game and that worked beautifully today. As a team, it is important for every player to get time out in the middle," the stand-in skipper said.
‘No change in Virat’s mindset, attitude, and work ethic’
For Rahul, even during the period of lull over last three years, there had been no change in Kohli's work ethic or mindset.
"Obviously, the celebration by Virat was more of relief. There has been no change in his mindset, attitude, and work ethic in the last 2-3 years. There has been no difference in the way he prepares for the game.
"He (Rahul) has always had that desire, I think we are also very obsessed with numbers, obsessed with those three digits and we think, if someone is scoring hundreds, then only he is in form. His contributions have been phenomenal in the last 2-3 years," said Rahul.
The hallmark of Kohli has always been striving for perfection in his pursuit of excellence, feels Rahul.
"As a player, you always want to be perfect or you want to challenge yourself towards excellency, he has always been that player. Even during this phase, he has remained in the moment, and he has worked on his game. That has been a learning for our entire group," Rahul said.
While Kohli himself was pleasantly surprised that his much awaited 71st hundred came in shortest format, Rahul wasn't surprised at all.
"In that dressing room, none of us is surprised to see what he has done today. I am sure this will give him even more confidence, he will obviously cherish this hundred and this will build a great confidence around the group as well," he added.
(With inputs from PTI)
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