KL Rahul's Journey-Adjusting Batting Orders and Coping with Criticism

KL Rahul has never failed to show himself to be a chameleon of sorts within the ever-changing Indian cricket squad. Placed in different batting positions, he gets on with it, comprehending that such a shift is just part of the game. His credo is simple: do your thing and contribute to the win, wherever he is required to bat.

The Challenge of Rotating the Strike

Rahul's greatest worry is having the strike rotate freely, especially on challenging pitches like the one at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS). These kinds of surfaces have a tendency to make it difficult for batsmen to get their feet in a rush, increasing the possibility of accumulating dot balls, which might exert excessive pressure.

"Rotating the strike the instant you walk in against spinners or fast bowlers has been slightly of a task," Rahul admitted ahead of India's crucial Champions Trophy match against New Zealand. He further explained that the addition of dot balls forces batsmen to play risks, and this leads to avoidable wickets. To overcome this, the team has been putting in a lot of effort to minimize the dot-ball ratio and make wise shot decisions.

While scoring boundaries is always the priority, Rahul emphasizes that there are certain wickets where boundary-scoring is much more difficult. In those situations, the focus must be on finding a balance between rotating the strike and carefully choosing the right moments to attack.

Adapting to Various Batting Positions

Rahul's adaptability has been both his strength and weakness. In over 82 ODIs, he has batted in many different positions:

No. 1: 16 times

No. 2: 7 times

No. 3: 3 times

No. 4: 13 times

No. 5: 31 times

No. 6: 6 times

No. 7: Once

Being a left-handed batsman, adhering to lower batting positions has required a lot of mental and technical flexibility. Rahul understands that it is not easy to keep shifting positions up and down the order but is subject to the judgment of the team. "Whatever the team believes is the right combination and whatever they think is the right entry point for a player, you leave it in the hands of the team to decide, and you just attempt to play your role," he added.

Picking Tips from Teammates

In order to deal with tricky pitches, Rahul often takes cues from teammates who have spent significant time in the middle. Players like Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and Shubman Gill provide good advice on how the pitch is playing and what is the right shot. "We are discussing it within the group. Shubman was playing a lot on that pitch, Virat was playing a lot last game, and Shreyas has been there. To know from them is giving us an idea of where to attack the ball, either square of the wicket or playing a lot straighter," he stated.

These discussions help players like Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel adjust quickly when they are introduced to bat, so that they can play well even in difficult circumstances.

The Added Pressure of Wicketkeeping

Besides his batting duties, Rahul has also performed the duty of wicketkeeping in ODIs. The added responsibility is more pressurizing, especially with Rishabh Pant waiting in the wings as a specialist wicketkeeper. Rahul openly admitted the test: "I won't lie. There's always the temptation for the team to either play him or play me."

He understands that Pant's aggressive batting is a game-saver and throws in more competition between the two players. But Rahul claims to play with his strengths and doesn't try to copy another player's game. "If I get the opportunity, I attempt to play what I play best. I am not competing against Rishabh or playing like him. He is picked based on his strengths, and I am picked based on mine. My intention is to stick to my game and assist the team in winning."

Handling Criticism with Maturity

Despite having played for the Indian team, Rahul is one of the most debated cricketers on social media. However, he has developed a realistic way of dealing with online criticism. "I'm quite used to reading it, hearing it, and watching it," he admitted. Rather than tuning out criticism altogether, he likes to check if it is sensible.

"Sometimes I just sit back and see if the criticism is warranted. I will get it wrong at times, I will make mistakes, and I will misread situations. But that's the beauty of sport. As long as I am sure that I have given my all and made decisions with the right intentions, I can go home and sleep soundly," Rahul clarified.

This mindset has worked well for him in maintaining concentration, so that external distraction does not affect his play on the field.

Conclusion

KL Rahul's cricket career has been that of grit, toil, and mental resilience. Adapting to new batting positions, navigating challenging pitch conditions, taking wicketkeeping responsibilities, or dealing with criticism—any or all of these, he has learned to acclimatize. As he moves into the next phase of his life in cricket, Rahul is resolute in his commitment to do his job to the best of his abilities—no matter what the future holds