KL Rahul has been in the news for the last couple of weeks. While Rahul has successfully utilised his chances on the cricket field apart from bowling, Rishabh Pant’s career has gone backward direction. Till the first week of January, Pant was the first-choice wicket-keeper in limited-overs cricket for India. But a Pat Cummins bouncer that hit him on the helmet ruled him out of the game.
In his absence, KL Rahul took up the responsibility and managed to come out with flying colours. With this, Pant has seen his place is losing from his hand. After doing a stunning job with both bat and keeping gloves, Rahul once again played an important knock in the first T20I against New Zealand at Auckland, scoring 56 runs off 27 balls.
His blitz knock made the foundation of India’s 204-run chase and he did a great job behind the stumps also. Rahul’s performance impressed the captain Virat Kohli who confirmed KL Rahul will keep in the New Zealand series as well as he brings in more stability in the squad.
However, with this, Rishabh Pant’s position in the side became a question. When Rahul was asked the same question after in the post-match presentation after India’s six-wicket win against New Zealand in the first T20I, he looked clueless.
In Auckland, a journalist asked Rahul–“Do you see Pant coming back into the side and playing in this series?” To which, Rahul replied: “It’s not up to me, I mean.”
Rahul, however, added that he loved the dual role which he is playing right now on the Indian side.
“I’m quite honestly loving it. At the international stage, it might seem very new and it might seem like I’ve never kept. (But) I’ve kept for my IPL franchise for the last 3-4 years, and I’ve kept for my first-class team as and when there is an opening. I’ve still stayed in touch with wicket keeping,” Rahul said.
“I enjoy staying behind the stumps and it also gives me a great idea about how the pitch is playing, and I can pass on that message to the bowlers and the captains with field-sets and everything. As a keeper, that’s also your responsibility to stay active and pass the message on to your captain as to what lengths are better and what I feel we can do better,” KL Rahul concluded.
