India skipper Virat Kohli was delighted with KL Rahul’s superb showing against Bangladesh on Tuesday and believes that the 27-year-old’s form was the biggest positive for the side to take from the World Cup warm-up win.
Rahul struck a masterful 108 (99) against Bangladesh at Cardiff to help India amass a daunting 359-7 in their 50 overs. The right-hander’s display while batting at No4 could very well end the debate surrounding the position and Kohli hinted the same after the game.
“The biggest positive to come out of this game was the way KL batted at four,” Kohli stated after India’s 95-run win.
“All the other people know their role pretty well, so it was important that KL gets runs because he is such a sound player.
“He can get the scoreboard ticking and you saw that – a great example of the skillset that he has.”
India have struggled to find a consistent performer in the number four slot over the past few years with various batsmen being tested in the position. It was Vijay Shankar who was the frontrunner to take the spot in the World Cup squad but Rahul’s showing against Bangladesh could very well see the all-rounder fall down the pecking order.
They were 102/4 after 22 overs. They finish on 359/7, largely thanks to centuries from KL Rahul and MS Dhoni.
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) May 28, 2019
A very impressive comeback from India.#BANvIND | #CWC19
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Rahul, who is naturally an opening batsman, has stated that he remains open to bat at whichever position the team requires him to.
“It is a team game and you need to be flexible and be ready to bat wherever, or as a player you need to be ready to take up whatever role is given to you,” the right-handed batsman said after the game.
“Every batsman who has played at this level knows how to handle pressure and knows how to handle the roles and responsibilities given to him.
“And it is a team game and everybody has been prepared for the last couple of years in a way where anything, any role can be given come a big game. All of us are prepared that way and nothing that is given to any individual now will come off as a surprise.”
India are slated to open their 2019 ICC World campaign on June 5 when they take on South Africa at Southampton.
