‘The bowlers don’t give me enough credit,’ KL Rahul’s cheeky comment on DRS calls
Rahul needed 62 balls to smash the fastest century for India at a World Cup, breaking skipper Rohit Sharma’s record (63 balls against Afghanistan), as India posted a massive 410 for 4 against the Netherlands in their final group stage match.
Bangalore, November 12: Wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul, who returned to record the fastest century for India in a World Cup, was a relieved man on Sunday after spending some time in the middle ahead of the major semi-final against New Zealand.
Rahul needed 62 balls to smash the fastest century for India at a World Cup, breaking skipper Rohit Sharma’s record (63 balls against Afghanistan), as India posted a massive 410 for 4 against the Netherlands in their final group stage match.
“I didn’t get much time (in the middle) in the last two games, so it was nice to get some time today,” said Rahul, who finished with 102 off 64 balls, midway through the innings.
“As a No. 5 batsman it’s important to get that confidence, it was a good blow. It was important to get that confidence to hit sixes towards the end,” he said.
It was a timely knock for Rahul; his first score of over fifty in eight innings came just before the knockout stages.
Rahul went berserk by hitting four sixes and 11 fours as India scored 122 runs in the last ten overs, which was the second highest World Cup total.
“It’s not rocket science, I had to go hard in the last ten overs. Trying to make as many runs as possible, that was the plan, the ball is getting softer so hitting sixes at the back becomes difficult.
“It’s just not this game, everyone has a clear game plan, we’ve executed it (our plans) quite well,” he said.
No DRS credit ========= Rahul has also been solid behind the stumps, and has also made a difference with his DRS ratings.
It was in their match against Sri Lanka that Rahul’s sharp judgment behind the stumps had won them the prized scalp of Dushmantha Chameera for a duck.
Chameera was feeling weak as no fielder seemed to have appealed, but Rahul was confident of an edge after taking the catch and convinced his skipper to take the DRS.
“Wicketkeeping gets difficult at times, but I enjoy being involved in the game. The bowlers have challenged me on DRS calls, but they don’t give me enough credit (on DRS calls)”.