Despite being a regular in India’s Test team, KL Rahul decided that he’d play one of the two practice matches between India A and England Lions. Following the retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Rahul is the most senior batter. He could have easily decided that he’d stay home with his 3-month-old daughter and travel to England with the main team.
KL Rahul picked country over his child
But Rahul chooses to get familiarised with English conditions instead of choosing to stay back with his young family. Delhi Capitals head coach Hemang Badani, who spent more than 2 months with Rahul, has shared how the wicketkeeper batter picked country over his child.
“I really liked the fact that he was someone who said, ‘I want to go to England early. I want to play the side game.’ Forget about the hundred he got — that came later. The intent — that’s what matters. The intent to be there early, to be prepared, to be with the side,” Badani told the Times of India.
“Let’s not forget, he’s a young father, and I don’t think his child is travelling with him initially. So for him to say, ‘Country over my child’ — that’s a huge call. He could’ve easily said, ‘I’m not playing the side game anyway; I’ll just go straight to the Test match.’ But he didn’t,” he added.
Taking over from Rohit-Kohli
As one of the senior-most members of the Test team, Rahul knew that he’d have to step up in Rohit and Kohli’s absence. The young team has players who haven’t made their debuts and more than half haven’t played a Test match in England. Having done well in the past two tours, Rahul took it upon himself to shoulder more weight.
“KL made a statement I remember ahead of the Test series: ‘I care for this team, and I want to be here.’ He wanted to go to England. I could see the hunger in his eyes and in his words. In the absence of Rohit and Virat, he becomes the senior-most batter — and he has played that role really well.”
“He’s played in England before. And in terms of maturity and technique, you can clearly see he’s more focused now. He knows he has to fill the vacuum left behind. The rest of the squad — apart from Karun — are mostly under 30. So he has to guide players like Sai Sudharsan, Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Nitish Kumar Reddy — all of whom are new to this level,” Badani added.
KL Rahul prioritised India vs England Tests over 3-month-old daughter, says Delhi Capitals head coach Inside Sport India.
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