Outside noise affected me last year, worked on mental conditioning during injury layoff: KL Rahul

KL Rahul has made some significant contributions with the bat as well as in the field during India's five-match unbeaten streak in the ODI World Cup 2023. His 97-run unbeaten knock against Australia in India's opening World Cup fixture oozed class and showed the cricket fraternity why he is rated as one of the most skillful players in modern-day cricket. While playing for Lucknow Super Giants, Rahul suffered a right thigh injury in a game against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League 2023 at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.

The 31-year-old was out for four months before returning to the Indian side to play in the Asia Cup 2023. Rahul is going to play at the Ekana Stadium once again on Sunday versus England in an ODI World Cup 2023 clash.

"I am trying to forget; you are reminding me again and again," said Rahul light-heartedly, when he was asked about his unfortunate memory from his last visit to the Ekana Stadium, during the pre-match press conference.

"I can't say that it is not in my mind. Yesterday when I came to the ground, my last memory of this ground is that - falling down and injuring myself. Hopefully, I can put that aside and I can make some better and happier memories to forget all of that," he added.

Mentally you got to get a lot stronger, a lot more thick-skinned: KL Rahul

Since his comeback from injury, Rahul has been in surreal form as he has amassed 482 runs in just 10 ODI innings at an average of 96.40. The Karnataka batter spoke about battling outside noise and how much importance he gave to mental conditioning during his injury layoff.

"I have put a lot of effort in this. I tried to address it. Outside noise for a long time, I thought it won't affect me, but in the last year or so it started affecting me. And then I realized that I would have to work on it. And when I got time, outside of the game, I tried to work on that side - mentally you got to get a lot more stronger, a lot more thick-skinned. So yeah, so that really helped me being away from the game," said Rahul during a pre-match press conference ahead of India's ODI World Cup 2023 clash against England.

Indian fans will hope Rahul continues his purple patch and helps the team to bag a third ODI World Cup title.

Also Check: Most Runs in ODI World Cup 2023