'He Himself Has To Be Blamed,' Former Indian Captain On KL Rahul
Kl Rahul plays a shot [AP]
Indian cricketer, KL Rahul, made a triumphant comeback that left cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar singing his praises. Rahul's spectacular century against arch-rivals Pakistan not only marked a significant moment in his career but also played a pivotal role in Team India's resounding victory over Pakistan, by a margin of 228 runs.
Rahul's journey to this remarkable achievement was not without its share of challenges. He had to miss the group stages of the Asia Cup 2023 due to a niggle he sustained during his rehabilitation at the NCA. Despite the injury concerns, the selection committee and the team management displayed unwavering faith in Rahul, including him in both the Asia Cup and World Cup squads.
Following Team India's Asia Cup victory, Sunil Gavaskar in his own right, took the opportunity to laud KL Rahul's remarkable self-belief displayed during the crucial century. Gavaskar, who has been an advocate of Rahul's immense talent for several years, emphasized that Rahul himself might not fully comprehend the extent of his cricketing prowess.
"The most important thing was the self-belief he showed in that particular century. Often, I have always said... I have said about him way back in 2016 or 17 that he is going to be the next big thing in Indian cricket. If he hasn't, he himself has to be blamed because I don't think he actually realizes how good a player he is."
The veteran went on to highlight the noticeable shift in Rahul's confidence during this innings compared to other instances where he appeared less sure of himself. He pointed out that Rahul sometimes exudes a lack of confidence, which should ideally be overshadowed by self-assuredness on the field.
"You saw that confidence in that Pakistan innings. He got to play like that every time. He does sometimes play like that in the IPL. But now to see him bat the way that he did was absolutely wonderful."
The keeper-batter's exceptional performance was not initially anticipated, as he was slated to miss the clash against Pakistan. However, a last-minute injury to Shreyas Iyer opened the door for the wicket-keeper batter to bat at No. 4.
As Team India basks in the glory of their Asia Cup victory, they are gearing up for another exciting challenge. India will face Australia in a highly anticipated three-match series as a part of their preparations leading up to the World Cup, set to commence on Friday, September 22.
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