Image Source- AP
KL Rahul was not selected for India’s starting lineup
against Pakistan in the Asia Cup Super Four. But when head coach Rahul Dravid
instructed him to prepare shortly before the toss in Colombo, there was a small
issue. Rahul had left his batting gear and kit back at the hotel since he
planned to carry refreshments. at fetch his kit at the R Premadasa Stadium, the
team manager had to sprint around frantically.
“Five minutes before toss, Rahul bhai told me you
might have to play because Shreyas [Iyer] has a back spasm,” Rahul told
official broadcaster Star Sports after he marked his comeback with his sixth
ODI hundred in India’s
“At the last minute, our manager had to run to
the hotel to get my stuff. Strange things have happened in my career. This
isn’t the first time. It has happened earlier too. Mentally I guess I know what
to do when I’m thrown into the ring, I give my best. I’m happy such
performances happen [when he’s been faced with such situations]. Maybe it’s
also a sign that I don’t have to think too much. I can just go out there and
enjoy my cricket. That’s the learning for me.”
Rahul was correct when he mentioned that similar
events had occurred in the past. One such incident may have altered the path of
his career in 2016. Rahul wasn’t featured in the Royal Challengers Bangalore XI
at the start of the toss for an IPL match in Rajkot vs Gujarat Lions. But five
minutes before the game began, Mandeep Singh tore the webbing on his left hand,
and he was spotted racing off the field to prepare. The opposition captain,
Suresh Raina, was then asked by Virat Kohli if a late substitution could be
made.
He is an essential piece of India’s ODI World Cup
puzzle because of his ability to bat in the middle and keep wickets. This is
the reason the team management gave him five months to become well again after
he hobbled off with a torn hamstring. Rahul had to put a lot of effort into
being ready before he joined the squad last week in time for the Super Fours.
“I’ve had three [tests] done in the last ten
days,” Rahul said with a laugh. “Two yo-yo tests, two practice
matches, this [batting in the middle in humid conditions] was worse than that
[yo-yo tests]. Yeah, for four months I’ve had a lot of juice, and energy.
Hopefully, I can carry this, try to recover fast and come back fresh [for the
Sri Lanka game].”