I had started to doubt myself after KWK controversy: KL Rahul

Team India had created history in Australia by winning the Test series and the new year had started well for the cricket fans. But very few had seen the controversy hitting the Indian Cricket. Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul had shot an episode for the talk show Koffee with Karan and it was aired in the first week of January ahead of the three-match ODI series against Australia. Things were never the same for both the cricketers since then.

The misogynist comments made by the duo attracted a lot of criticism and even the BCCI suspended them immediately pending inquiry. Rahul and Pandya had to return home from Australia and the former, who was already going through a rough patch with the bat, was dealt with a huge blow. He missed the subsequent New Zealand tour as well and it seemed that he won’t return to the mix again.

However, sense prevailed in the end and after a huge gap, KL Rahul returned to the Indian team for the T20Is against Australia at home. He is currently playing the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) and looks in a better frame of mind.

I was hated nationally

But KL Rahul, while recalling those tough times, has revealed that, at one stage, he had started to doubt himself during the controversy. He admitted that it was very tough period for him as a person and a cricketer as well. He also went on to add that the saga taught him a lot and is a more matured person now.

“Last two months have been very very tough for me. When it happened I had started to doubt myself as a person. I was hated nationally and it was not easy. I always thought I was a good person and then I started to believe otherwise.

“I couldn’t come out of home for I was not ready. Only played play station and all. I have become calmer and more mature as a result. It has taught me a lot and maybe I have emerged stronger also,” Rahul said in an exclusive interview to India Today.

He will now be hoping to make amends in the T20 league and make it to India’s World Cup squad which will be announced next month before April 24 which is the deadline set by the ICC.

Here’s Kings XI Punjab full squad for IPL 2019:

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