'Happy and proud moment' - KL Rahul on being named as India's vice-captain for Australia tour

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squads for the three-match T20I and ODI series followed by four-match Border Gavaskar Trophy earlier this week. One shocking elimination from the squad was of limited-overs vice-captain Rohit Sharma, who incurred an injury while playing in the ongoing Indian Premier League.

Hence, he has not been named for the Australian tour. In the absence of Rohit, the wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul has been named as the vice-captain of the ODI and T20I squads. It was a pleasant surprise for Rahul, who has donned the captain’s hat for the first time for his IPL franchise Kings XI Punjab (KXIP).

Speaking about his appointment as the vice-captain, Rahul reckons that though it is a proud moment for him, he is not thinking further about the leadership role. The batsman further added that the upcoming two-three months are very crucial and he is looking forward to making most of this opportunity.

KL Rahul excited for the assignment

“It is a very happy and proud moment. I wasn’t expecting it, but I’m very happy. I am ready for responsibility and challenge and I will try to do my best for my team as much as I can. I am looking forward to the coming tour but the next 2-3 weeks before that are very important.

“The next 2-3 months will be very important. I am thinking about one day at a time, not much forward at the moment,” he said while talking to KXIP.in.

KL is doing a decent job as the captain of the Punjab franchise in the ongoing T20 extravaganza. Though the franchise had a rough start in the tournament with just one win in seven games, they have bounced back stronger and are now placed at fourth spot in the points tally with six wins in twelve fixtures.

Along with leading in the domestic tournament, Rahul also has experience of leading the Indian team for a short period of time. While touring New Zealand earlier this year, the skipper Virat Kohli had rested himself in the last T20 of the five-match series and Rohit was named as the captain.

However, Rohit had to leave the field midway in the second innings after suffering from a calf injury. This is when Rahul stepped up and led the Indian team as a stand-in captain.