2 Min Read
Batter KL Rahul wants to make a comeback into the national team on the back of the coming Indian Premier League (IPL) season.
Rahul, 32, is set to open the batting in the absence of Rohit Sharma for the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy beginning November 22 at Perth.
Rahul's form has been a worrying cause for the national side as he was dropped for the final two games of the series against New Zealand.
"My aim is to obviously get back into the T20 team. I've always wanted to be an all-format player, and that desire and drive haven't changed over the years. I want to still play for India in all three formats and have done that for many years," Rahul told Star Sports.
"I've been out of the T20 team for a while, and I know where I stand as a player and what I need to do to get back. So, I look forward to this IPL season to give me that platform to enjoy my cricket and play the way I want to," he added.
Rahul has scored 514 runs in 12 Tests at an average of 25.7 since 2022, with the help of three half-centuries and a ton. He said that he is keeping team's aspirations above his individual goals.
"All of us as players want to play with freedom, and everyone would think that the way I batted, I'm enjoying playing that. But like I said, my thought process and motivation have always been team first. It doesn't matter what I want to do or what my natural game is.
"We play a team sport. If I played tennis, it would be different; I could stick to saying, 'This is my natural game.' But in a team sport, it's very different. Each game, you'll have a different role and responsibility given to you to find a way to deliver for the team," he said.
The Bengaluru man's last Test hundred was against South Africa at Centurion in December 2023 and since then made just two fifties in nine innings.
Rahul, 32, is set to open the batting in the absence of Rohit Sharma for the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy beginning November 22 at Perth.
Rahul's form has been a worrying cause for the national side as he was dropped for the final two games of the series against New Zealand.
KL Rahul left the field today as a precautionary measure, he'll be fit for the 1st Test. ???????? pic.twitter.com/syoAHU1xBy
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 15, 2024
"My aim is to obviously get back into the T20 team. I've always wanted to be an all-format player, and that desire and drive haven't changed over the years. I want to still play for India in all three formats and have done that for many years," Rahul told Star Sports.
"I've been out of the T20 team for a while, and I know where I stand as a player and what I need to do to get back. So, I look forward to this IPL season to give me that platform to enjoy my cricket and play the way I want to," he added.
Rahul has scored 514 runs in 12 Tests at an average of 25.7 since 2022, with the help of three half-centuries and a ton. He said that he is keeping team's aspirations above his individual goals.
All in pic.twitter.com/40XIPsXma0
— K L Rahul (@klrahul) November 14, 2024
"All of us as players want to play with freedom, and everyone would think that the way I batted, I'm enjoying playing that. But like I said, my thought process and motivation have always been team first. It doesn't matter what I want to do or what my natural game is.
"We play a team sport. If I played tennis, it would be different; I could stick to saying, 'This is my natural game.' But in a team sport, it's very different. Each game, you'll have a different role and responsibility given to you to find a way to deliver for the team," he said.
The Bengaluru man's last Test hundred was against South Africa at Centurion in December 2023 and since then made just two fifties in nine innings.
First Published: Nov 15, 2024 5:34 PM IST
Check out our in-depth Market Coverage, Business News & get real-time Stock Market Updates on CNBC-TV18. Also, Watch our channels CNBC-TV18, CNBC Awaaz and CNBC Bajar Live on-the-go!
Live TV
Loading...