Anil Kumble thinks KL Rahul gets way too much pressure on him sometimes, though his cool inning in that Champions Trophy semi-final against Australia really gave his confidence a boost. Chasing 265, Rahul walked in at No. 6 after Axar Patel got out and India still needed, 87 runs off 90 balls, which was pretty intense. Then he teamed up with Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya in some key partnerships that, kept the chase alive in a sort of unexpected way. His unbeaten 42 off 34 balls kinda turned out to be essential in steering the team to a win, showing off his knack for handling pressure in those high-stakes moments.
Kumble On Rahul’s Batting Position
Anil Kumble hinted that KL Rahul should’ve come in to bat before Axar Patel during India’s semi-final duel with Australia. On ESPNcricinfo Match Day he casually mentioned that “Even though Axar built up a pretty neat link with Virat Kohli, Rahul’s finishing ability really stands out, or so it seems. He went on about it, saying that “I know Axar did a good job connecting with Virat, but when KL Rahul comes in at that point, it’s like, if he gets to 30, you’re practically crossing the finish line; he just does it, over and over.” And then, even though there was that missed chance against New Zealand in the previous game, Rahul still remains a class act, and his impressive knock would definitely, boost his confidence.
Also Read: Virat Kohli Creates History! Breaks HUGE Record In Champions Trophy Semifinal Against Australia
The Pressure On KL Rahul
Kumble also said there is a lot of scrutiny on Rahul, whether he performs well or not. “He has a lot of pressure. If he performs well, it is expected. If he fails even in one innings, suddenly the whole world comes after him.” he said. Kumble also said that Rahul was under pressure for his wicket keeping in the last game but came up with the goods in the semi-final. “He was under pressure, even with his keeping in the last game, but today he showed what he is capable of, ” Kumble said, adding that he has faith in Rahul’s abilities.
