KL Rahul played a calm and smart innings to help India win the first ODI against New Zealand on Sunday, January 11. The match was played at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara. India chased a target of 301 runs and won by four wickets with one over left.
Rahul came in to bat at No. 6. India were under pressure near the end. The team needed 58 runs from the last 53 balls. Rahul was joined by Harshit Rana. The pair added 37 important runs. Rana played aggressive shots. Rahul stayed calm. He gave Rana most of the strike.
After Rana got out, Washington Sundar walked in to bat despite being injured. Rahul then took responsibility. He scored 20 runs from his last nine balls. His effort helped India cross the line safely.
After the match, Rahul spoke about the difference between opening the batting and playing in the lower middle order.
KL Rahul opens up on batting lower down the order
“I honestly walk in and look at the scoreboard and see what I need to do for the next few overs. If I’m opening the batting, obviously, I get, a lot of overs and most of the overs I can plan that, and that’s something that I’ve done throughout my life, so I never had to plan or think about how can I be consistent in that phase,” KL Rahul said while speaking to the broadcasters.
“Honestly, I think batting at five or six has helped me understand my batting a lot more. It’s a completely different challenge. I walk in at a stage like that where you need to hit a boundary properly from ball one and, and there’s so much pressure and there. You have 5 fielders outside. When you’re opening the batting, you don’t see fielders at all. Everyone’s right next to you, so it’s much easier batting there,” Rahul added.
“There is a lot more pressure at No.6 and one mistake and you can be on the losing side and all the blame comes on you. It’s been exciting and I’m grateful that the opportunities that I’ve got every time I’ve been put under pressure, I’ve somehow found a way to make it work for the team and get the team over the line. So I’m just happy and I’m just like going along with it and I’ve said this before, I just want to be in the XI, put me anywhere. I’m happy to do the job,” said Rahul.
