Rohit Sharma's calming influence gets KL Rahul excited

India’s Rohit Sharma (left) and teammate KL Rahul during the ICC Twenty20 World Cup match against Namibia at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on November 8. Pic/AFP

Team India's disappointing T20 World Cup notwithstanding, their preparation for next year's event scheduled in Australia will kick off with three T20Is against New Zealand from Wednesday in Jaipur.

Kane Williamson's team flew down from Dubai after their heartbreaking loss in the T20 World Cup final to Australia on Sunday.

India are set for a fresh beginning with Rahul Dravid as the new head coach and Rohit Sharma as the T20 team's new leader.

The team's vice-captain KL Rahul is excited to witness what could be the next chapter in Indian cricket. "He [Rohit] has a great understanding of the game and his tactics are really good.

That's why he has been able to achieve things that he has as a leader. We all obviously enjoy watching Rohit bat and he is a great guy to have in the dressing room. He is excited and all of us in the team are excited to play under Rohit. He brings a lot of calmness in the dressing room," Rahul said during a virtual press conference on Monday.

When asked about his new responsibility as Rohit's deputy, Rahul said: "Yes, there will be an added responsibility, but it is something I have enjoyed doing. The most important thing would be to create an atmosphere in the dressing room where people come in feeling happy and welcome, and they go out there and express themselves in the middle and enjoy their cricket."

The Punjab Kings skipper is also eager to lift his game a few notches under Dravid, the Karnataka and India stalwart. "I have known him [Dravid] for a very long time.

"As a youngster, when I tried to pick his brains and understand the game, the art of batting from him, he was very helpful to all of us back home in Karnataka.

"To have him with us in the set up is a great opportunity for all of us to learn and get better as cricketers; understand the game from his point of view," Rahul said.

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