KL Rahul Reflects on Mindset Shift After Century in England Test
KL Rahul's New Approach to Cricket
After his impressive century at Leeds, Indian wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul shared insights into his evolving mindset in international cricket. He emphasized that he now enjoys hitting balls rather than focusing solely on the quality of his performance.
A Shift from Numbers to Enjoyment
In a post-match interview, KL revealed that he previously struggled to convert his starts into significant scores. However, he has adopted a more relaxed approach, stating, "I am just getting runs now. There was a time when I was just getting starts, but not converting those to big scores in Tests, especially. This stage of cricket I am at, journey I am at, a lot has changed. I am much calmer in my head and not chasing numbers. I am just enjoying my cricket as much as I can."
Learning from Experience
KL credited former assistant coach Abhishek Nayar for his guidance over the past 15-18 months, which helped him return to the basics of batting. He mentioned, "I have worked a lot with him, spent a lot of time with him in 15-18 months. I have gone back to basics, doing time. There was a time when I was in a quality over quantity mindset in international cricket and did not hit enough balls. Now I am back to enjoying hitting a lot of balls in the nets."
KL Rahul's Performance in Recent Matches
This year has been fruitful for KL Rahul, who has excelled in various roles across formats. In ODIs leading up to the 2023 Cricket World Cup, he played as a dependable number five, accumulating 452 runs in 11 matches, including a century and two fifties. Notably, he scored a 62-ball century against the Netherlands, marking India's fastest in World Cup history.
Transitioning Roles
Post-World Cup, he transitioned to a number six finisher role, contributing valuable runs. During the ICC Champions Trophy, he scored 140 runs across four innings, averaging 140.00 with a strike rate of 97.90. In the semifinals and finals against Australia and New Zealand, he made significant contributions with scores of 42* and 34*.
Continuing IPL Success
In the Indian Premier League (IPL), KL amassed 539 runs in 13 innings at an average of 53.90, showcasing his best performance since the 2018 season. He played various roles, including as an opener, and finished as the ninth-highest run-scorer while representing Delhi Capitals.
KL Rahul's Test Batting Journey
Since returning to his usual opening position in Tests, KL has shown solid form, scoring 431 runs in 10 innings at an average of 47.88, including a century and two fifties. Despite some success in the middle order, he has consistently performed better as an opener, with a total of 2,982 runs in 49 Tests.
Reflections on Batting Average
KL expressed that he feels "hurt a lot" when he sees his batting average of 34.70, but he is no longer fixated on numbers. In 59 Tests, he has scored 3,436 runs, including nine centuries and 17 fifties, with a highest score of 199. Despite facing criticism for inconsistency, his seven overseas centuries highlight his capability to perform under diverse conditions.
Looking Ahead to the Final Day
As the Test match approaches its final day, KL anticipates an exciting showdown while defending a target of 371 runs. He remarked, "I think it is a perfect day-five wicket for us to bowl on. It is a blockbuster for us." He noted that the pitch has shown signs of wear, which could lead to an interesting conclusion.
Current Match Status
In the ongoing Leeds Test, England ended Day 4 at 21/0, with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett remaining unbeaten. They are 350 runs away from victory, focusing on preserving their wickets as they prepare for the final day.