File photo of KL Rahul, Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni.© AFP
KL Rahul will make his ODI captaincy debut on Wednesday, when India will play the first game of the three-game series against South Africa at the Boland Park in Paarl. On the eve of the first ODI, Rahul, who has been appointed as the ODI side’s leader for these three ODIs after Rohit Sharma was sidelined due to a hamstring injury, spoke about the challenges he will face as a skipper. He also praised MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli as skippers and said they were great captains.
“I learned a lot from @mahi7781 and @virat.kohli. @rahulkl about his lessons from MS Dhoni & Virat Kohli and leading #TeamIndia in the ODI series against South Africa,” BCCI wrote on Instagram with a video.
“Look, I’m not someone who has a lot of plans and I don’t really have goals. I look game by game and that’s how I play my cricket as a player. That’s how I like to lead the team like Well. I’ve played under great captains like MS (Dhoni) and Virat (Kohli). There is so much that I have learned from them and I think I can use all that knowledge as I captain more matches for my country. I am a ‘human being and I will make mistakes along the way, but i will learn and get better. It’s a new series and a great opportunity for me to lead my country and I’m really looking forward to it and I’m very excited,” Rahul said in a virtual press conference on Tuesday.
Rahul also confirmed that he will open the battle for India in the ODI series. The 29-year-old had mainly batted in the mid-range since the end of the 2019 World Cup, playing as a wicketkeeper.
“Yeah, in the last 14-15 months I’ve hit number four-five, in different positions and you know the team needed that from me. Now that Rohit isn’t there, I’d be at the top of the order,” said Rahul added.
promoted
India has already lost the three-game test series 1-2 and a day after the end of the red ball series, Virat Kohli also stepped down as skipper of the longest format.
Kohli will only be on the field as a player for the first time since October 2016.
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