XtraTime Web Desk: Indian cricket team’s opener KL Rahul has been doing the wicket-keeping for the team for last few matches. After playing a match winning knock against New Zealand which gave India a win over New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland, Rahul stated from behind the stumps he can keep a close eye on the game & he also likes the added responsibility as well.
“I am honestly loving it, in the international stage it might look that I am new to wicket-keeping, but I have done this role in the domestic cricket. I have done it for my IPL franchise, I enjoy staying behind the stumps,” Rahul said after the first T20I.
“It gives me a great idea of how the pitch is playing then I can pass on the message to the skipper and bowlers. Wicket-keeping requires you to be pro-active. I am enjoying the responsibility,” he added.
Rahul has been one of India’s most consistent performers in white-ball cricket recently and he also spoke about his new-found form that has helped India many-a-times in crunch situations.
“I felt like I was not getting enough game time, I was a part of the team for a long time, but I used to get just a couple of games. As a batsman, you need some time in the middle. I got runs in domestic cricket and that has worked really well for me,” Rahul said.
“In the team meetings, the coaches put up all stats and numbers. We have an idea about what our hitting areas can be as ground dimensions are talked about during team meetings. It is a strange ground for me, however, it is good to be challenged,” he added.
Apart from Rahul, Shreyas Iyer (29-ball 58) too slammed an unbeaten half-century to star in India’s victory and help the visitors go 1-0 up in the five-match series. The second T20I is scheduled to be played at the same venue on Sunday.