KL Rahul, The Newly Appointed India ODI Captain, Is Set And Ready To Go
KL Rahul played an important role in World Cup 2023 (AP Photos)
For someone who back in April this year found himself walking on crutches, literally speaking, KL Rahul has covered quite some distance in his international career. Hasn't he?
Having sustained a terrible injury on his leg while fielding in an important game for the Lucknow SuperGiants IPL outfit, KL Rahul's best, one may not have guessed, lay ahead in the ODI World Cup.
As one found out, Rahul came out with all guns blazing with his bat oozing fire against opponents big and small in the ICC tournament of epic proportions.
He would open the campaign with an unbeaten 97 off 115 deliveries, taking India home in their campaign opener against the Aussies. Who'd have known that India would meet the same opponent and a long-time ODI World Cup foe in the finals as well? But even in that huge game, KL was up to the task.
Having been tasked with reviving an innings that was going nowhere, a situation that, for instance, could repeat itself in this important upcoming series in South Africa, Rahul scored a valiant fifty.
Alas, it was never going to be enough. But KL Rahul, the batsman has been in-form and has, given his experience and ability to keep cool under pressure, been charged with the onerous responsibility.
The man who finds himself with the enviable task of leading the incredible Indian Cricket team in the one day format seems he's ready and raring to go. His detractors who spend hours decrying his often 'timid' looking scoring rate would want to note that the newly appointed Indian captain scored his 452 World Cup 2023 runs at a strike rate of 90 and with an average north of 75.
![[Watch] KL Rahul Breaks Down In Tears After Devastating Loss To Australia In WC Final](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1700416216504_Untitled design - 2023-11-19T232008.032.jpg)
In a world obsessed with numbers, Rahul's being the sort of batsman, much like his childhood hero, on whom one could rely and expect big things. However, truth be told, the 31-year-old Bangalore-born brings more than just captivating ODI numbers to the table. His numbers, really are telling; surely, the likes of Rabada, Maharaj, Coetzee and company ought to watch out.
It's taken the elegant batsman no more than 68 fifty-over international innings to score north of 2,700 runs and he's got an average north of 50. 24 of his 68 ODI innings have resulted either in a 50 or a 50+ score. Add to that his ability to keep wickets and keep them ably, which lends more versatility to a team that most are easily intimidated by.
Surely, at the outset, there are patches of mediocrity that seem to surface with the way KL Rahul bats but make no mistake, that's often only to get his eye in during critical, possibly match-changing situations.
In the world cup final, it did seem that he was intent on keeping a boundary drought before he would ultimately break the shackles and accelerate. But there was Kohli at the other end, a batsman whose career and talent is as far-reaching and mega much like his first name.
This luxury, however, won't be available to the Indian ODI captain in South Africa. Not that KL would be only counting on the soft spots and not prepare for the challenging moments. He will be aware having played several internationals alongside stalwarts of Indian cricket such as Rohit Sharma that the game often ebbs and flows and much too suddenly.
It is there where one has to lead from the front, set an example and do all that with the calmness of a monk. Not that unspeakable horror happens on a cricket field, but the tussles and the changing vagaries of this enormously exciting sport do compel one to be the best.
KL Rahul, one hopes and expects, will be that. Having gladly led India on a few occasions in the past, even if makeshift, Rahul, who hails from the land of the Wall, will be eager to set an example.
And he must!
He's got a lot to prove, if you think about it. And here's the chance and a very valid reason to do so. The man who sports cool weathers over his shoulders, averages, lest it is forgotten, 22 against the Proteas. 22 - That's about it.
Having scored 110 runs from 5 innings at a not so pretty strike rate of 66, Rahul's real challenge begins now.But knowing his penchant at creating a very Chanderpaul-meets-VVS Laxman-esque well of concentration, one hopes that Lokesh Rahul, the man of the moment, would do well to drag the bowlers into it instead of dragging a contest.
What do you reckon?
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