KL Rahul Discusses Challenges of Rotating Strike and Adapting to New Batting Positions

Image credits: Getty

KL Rahul has been a crucial member of the Indian cricket team, often finding himself in different batting positions. In 82 ODIs, he has batted in various positions, including 16 times at No. 1, seven times at No. 2, three times at No. 3, 13 times at No. 4, 31 times at No. 5, and six times at No. 6. This constant shifting has not been easy for him, but he has acknowledged that it's unavoidable and has been working on adapting to the team's needs.

One of the key challenges Rahul faces is rotating the strike as soon as he goes in, especially against spinners or fast bowlers. He has been working on minimizing dot balls and finding ways to score, which is crucial in today's cricket. Rahul often consults teammates who have spent a good amount of time in the middle, such as Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer, to gain insights into the wicket and determine which shots work best on that particular surface. He also tries to train with old balls and dry pitches to simulate the conditions in which he might get to bat.

Rahul has been the preferred wicketkeeper for the side in ODIs, but it comes with its share of difficulties, including the pressure from Rishabh Pant, who breathes down his neck as a specialist wicketkeeper. Despite this, Rahul believes in staying true to his strengths and not trying to compete with Pant. He is aware of the competition but focuses on doing what he does best and sticking to his game. Former India wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik has also backed Rahul to perform well in his newfound role, saying that No.6 is a good fit for him in the batting order.

The Indian team has been experimenting with different batting positions, and Rahul has had to adapt to these changes. He has been batting down the order in recent times, following Axar Patel's promotion up the order. While it has been a challenge, Rahul is ready for the new challenge and is working on developing the skillset to succeed in his new role. He has been looking to hit sixes and boundaries from the start and has been practicing with old balls and dry pitches to simulate the conditions he might face.

Here are some of KL Rahul's batting statistics in ODIs:

• Batted at No. 1: 16 times
• Batted at No. 2: 7 times
• Batted at No. 3: 3 times
• Batted at No. 4: 13 times
• Batted at No. 5: 31 times
• Batted at No. 6: 6 times

Rahul's ability to adapt to different batting positions and his batting skills make him a valuable asset to the Indian team. With the Champions Trophy underway, Rahul will be looking to make a significant impact and help his team succeed.

rotat rahul strike batt position adapt indian difficulti minimize dot