||India Correspondent ||
Team India have a huge pool of talented players for every spot. However, KL Rahul recently opened up on this. When he had taken the role of wicket-keeper in the ODIs replacing Rishabh Pant, who was going through a rough patch a couple of years ago, was in a great form. But recently Rahul was seen struggling with the bat in the T20I series against England and Pant was seen in a sublime form. And, then Rahul's inclusion in the first ODI raised questions.
However, the wicketkeeper-batsman slammed a 43-ball 62 in the first ODI against England and gave a befitting answer to his critics.
While addressing a press conference, Rahul said, "When you are part of this Indian team, you always know competition would be really high. You can never sit back and feel comfortable like you own your position. That’s the good thing, our team has high talent, players will always come in. As a player in this team, you always try to push yourself and try to get better with each passing day."
He continued: "Like I said, the ODI format, playing at number five, I could take a little more time than I did maybe in T20s. Having spent a little time in the middle, having played a couple of good shots, the footwork got better."
"When I walked in, Shikhar was batting well. I knew when Krunal walked in, I realised we had to stitch a partnership together, when you stop thinking about your own personal game and when there is responsibility in front of you, you start thinking clearer, having spent 20-25 balls in the middle, I started to feel more confident," concluded KL Rahul.
Both India and England will take on each other in the second ODI on March 26.