It Was Frustrating Not To Reach Three Figures Mark - KL Rahul

He kept getting fifties but was not able to convert those fifties into three figures mark. It has been the story of KL Rahul since home series against England. But as it is said that 'it's better late than never' KL Rahul proved it right. He finally had reached three figures mark on Tuesday, July 3 in the first T20I against England. He had taken trough India home with a sublime 101* off 54 balls while chasing 160.

Before this Rahul had scored his last century back in 2016 against England at Chennai. He missed out his double century in that match as he was dismissed on 199. Since then he has scored 14 half centuries which he failed to convert them into hundred.



“Trust me, I know (about the run),” he joked before the second T20I against England, to be played in Cardiff on Friday, 6 July. “Quite honestly, I didn't know what to make of it, whether I was in form or out of form.

“I kept getting the fifties and was getting out. I was batting well, but somehow, I couldn't get to the three-figure mark. So it was quite frustrating. Being in and out of the team, injuries, and sickness, it all was playing on my mind and kept frustrating me even more.”

“I realised somewhere down the line that it is still better than getting out on single figures and stopped worrying about the three figures. I wanted it really bad and am very happy that it came here in England, in the first game of the series, and hopefully I can carry that confidence forward and use the form and make it big."



It might not happen if Virat Kohli didn't sacrifice his No.3 spot for KL Rahul. But keeping ICC World Cup 2019 in mind, India is looking to make flexible their batting order so that they could find best possible XI and that's why Rahul batted at No.3 ahead of Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina.

“It has been made clear that there will be few changes in the team and as a batting unit, we need to be flexible in our heads to be able to perform any role or responsibility that has been given to us,” said Rahul. “We are all working towards it. We might want to promote MS Dhoni or Hardik Pandya if we get a good start, to go and get us a few sixes or get the run-rate up. So we will be flexible keeping in mind the World Cup.

“When you sit out, you realise that when you get the opportunity how important it is to use that opportunity, not only as a player individually but also for the team. When you get a chance to play, if you help them win a game, then the team will start believing that the player can also do this for the team. So building that confidence for yourself and the team is very important.”



He would ideally open, said Rahul, but No.3 worked fine for him too. “That's where I would love to bat and I have always batted at the top of the order. Nos.1 and 2 are what I am most comfortable in. Shikhar got out early (in Manchester) and it felt like I was opening the batting,” he said.

“It gives me a chance to get my eye in and even use the Powerplay. Whatever chances I get I should make the most of it and I am very happy that I got to bat up the order.” he added.

India will be hoping that Rahul keep playing like this while Rahul will want to make most if his recent form in the second T20I which is scheduled to play on Friday July 6 at Cardiff.

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