Team selection is not in our control: KL Rahul

KL Rahul is having a good time in the Caribbean. He has so far hit two half-centuries in the first warm-up fixture in St. Kitts against in the warm-up matches against West Indies Board President’s XI. In the first game, he made 50 and then continued his good form in the second at the same venue to hit a fluent 64.

But, this good run of form, still doesn’t assure him of a place in the starting line-up, when the first Test begins at Sir Viv Richards Stadium, Antigua, on Thursday (July 21).

“Look that (team selection) is not in our control. As players, we look to prepare well and whenever an opportunity comes, you need to be prepared to go out there and do well personally and also for your team and play to the roles and responsibilities given. There is still a week to go before the Tests.”

“In the next couple days, we will know who is playing and who is not, we will start preparing accordingly. But yeah, not really worried about it. When it comes, it comes and whatever has to happen will happen.”

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“The purpose of coming here was to get used to the wickets and conditions and I am really happy with the way I’ve batted. It is hot and humid and it is not easy to get runs out there. I tried to use these two innings and the time before the Tests to prepare for the Test series,” Rahul said to bcci.tv, after the end of the second day’s play against the WICB’s XI.”.

Format changes are a major challenge for a modern cricketer these days who find it but difficult to adjust.

“I know the format changes and you get a lot more time here, but we do this all the time. As professional cricketers we need to adapt quickly,” he reasoned.

The Indian bowlers did a good job in restricting their opponents to just 180 in the second warm-up fixture and Rahul feels that they are ready for the forthcoming Tests.

“We have three quality spinners and they have been in good form in the Test format and we will be happy if we get turning tracks. We have the firepower in the pace department as well. All of them have been doing well and increased their fitness levels and pace, so it is good to see them bending their back on wickets like these. Getting the ball to carry are good signs,” he concluded.