India’s stand-in ODI skipper Rahul set to emulate Virat’s leadership style of getting the best out of teammates by pushing them to believe they can do special things
India skipper KL Rahul during a practice session on the eve of the first ODI against South Africa in Paarl yesterday; (right) Virat Kohli. Pics/BCCI
India's stand-in ODI captain KL Rahul wants to build Team India’s success formula on former skipper Virat Kohli’s path.
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Rahul, who led India in the second Test against South Africa at Johannesburg (India lost by seven wickets) as Kohli was suffering from a back spasm recently, is excited to lead the country against the Proteas in three-match ODI series, starting in Paarl today.
‘Amazing Virat’
“When it comes to leadership, I think Virat has this amazing ability to get the best out of everybody. He pushed everybody and made us believe that we can do special things. That is something that I learnt from him and hopefully, I can do that with the [ODI] team as well,” Rahul said during a virtual press conference in reply to mid-day’s query on Kohli’s qualities that he wants to emulate as a leader.
Kohli stepped down from the Test captaincy on Saturday after India suffered a 1-2 Test series defeat against South Africa. Rahul’s name has been doing rounds along with that of Rohit Sharma (currently out due to a hamstring injury), wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant and stand-in ODI vice-captain pacer Jasprit Bumrah to be the next India Test captain.
Rahul reckoned the Test captaincy opportunity is exciting. India will be playing a two-Test series against Sri Lanka, beginning in Bangalore on February 25.
“To lead the country is a dream come true, something special, which every captain will cherish for a long time and I am no different. Yes, it [Test captaincy] would be a huge responsibility, if given to me. It is something that’s exciting, I am not really looking for anything at this time but if it happens to come my way, then I’ll try to carry Indian cricket forward to the best of my ability. “I had not given it [Test captaincy] a thought till the names came out, till the articles or news has been doing the rounds. Obviously, I had the opportunity to lead the Test team in Johannesburg, which was really special. The result did not go as expected, but it was a great learning experience for me and it would be something I will always be proud of,” added Rahul, who has 5,887 international runs under his belt.
Rahul, 29, who made his Test, ODI and T20I debut under Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s captaincy, said he will stay balanced while leading the team in South Africa.
Fresh start
“I have learnt a lot from both MS and Virat. I am human, I will make mistakes along the way, but I will learn and get better. That’s where my mind is at. This one-day series is a fresh start again and it is a great opportunity for me to captain my country. I take every game as it comes. I am not really someone who gets worried or gets too happy. I stay balanced with the results,” explained Rahul, who will have to move up the order from the No.4/5 position he has been occupying in ODIs across the last one year or so given the absence of regular opener Rohit.
However, the stand-in skipper made it clear that his team will not be a predictable one and advised his teammates to be ready and flexible to bat at any position according to the team’s strategy.
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