T20 World Cup 2022: I didn’t feel like my confidence or my form was low – KL Rahul

Indian opener KL Rahul returned with scores of 4, 9, and 9 in the first three matches of the ongoing T20 World Cup but didn’t feel like his form and confidence were low. Rahul had looked a bit tentative in his batting approach in the first three matches but he revealed he was batting confidently in the nets and he had all the belief to bounce back stronger.

Rahul smashed Shoriful Islam for a six over deep fine leg to get going in his innings against Bangladesh. The flamboyant batter then scored a flat six over point to give a harbinger that he is back at his best.

The right-hander then took Islam for two sixes and one four in the ninth over to take a total of 24 runs in the over and helped India in gaining the much-needed impetus in their batting innings after a sedate start.

Rahul got to his fifty off just 31 balls as he batted at his absolute best to give a fine start after Rohit Sharma was dismissed cheaply.

Rahul revealed that he received backing from his captain Rohit Sharma and the team support staff after he could not get going in the first three matches.

“We have all said this a lot of times before as well that this is where the support staff plays an important role in creating that environment where a player feels comfortable, confident and there is no doubt about his ability or what he brings to the team,” Rahul said in the press conference. “And they have kept that environment really, really balanced all the time whether we do well or don’t do well. We always stay balanced.

“The support staff has been really supportive. The captain has always backed his players. And you can see that. That’s why players – even when we have had a couple of tough innings – we find a way to come back and do well for the team. It is something you work on as a team. There are things you work on as an individual that help you but these are things that as a team you work on. The support staff, the coach, the captain, when they show confidence and faith in you, it gives you that confidence as a player that you will get the backing if you are going in the right direction.”

Despite not scoring consistently in the first three matches, Rahul was confident of delivering for the team against Bangladesh.

“I was obviously disappointed at having not contributed for three games,” Rahul said. “That is the only doubt in your mind but you don’t – at least I didn’t – get frustrated. I didn’t feel like my form or my confidence was low. I just didn’t get the runs. It happens in the game. You are not always going to keep scoring runs. It’s what you feel. If you are feeling confident, then you know a good inning will come and it’s around the corner. I knew in my heart that I was seeing the ball well. My processes were right. I knew a good knock or a good contribution for the team is coming.”

India will next take on Zimbabwe at the MCG on Sunday and Rahul would want to carry the same form.