**We sometimes take him for granted: Dinesh Karthik on Rahul’s 112***
The Indian cricket team has been on a roll lately, and one of the key players who has been instrumental in their success is KL Rahul. The talented batsman has been in fine form, and his unbeaten knock of 112 runs against New Zealand in the second ODI was a testament to his skills. However, despite his consistent performances, Rahul often finds himself under scrutiny and criticism from fans and pundits alike. Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik recently spoke out in support of Rahul, saying that we as a fan base sometimes take him for granted.
Karthik’s comments came after Rahul’s impressive century in the second ODI against New Zealand. The Indian team was in a spot of bother, but Rahul’s unbeaten 112 helped them recover and post a competitive total. Karthik, who has played with Rahul in the past, was full of praise for the batsman, saying, “We as a fan base sometimes take him for granted, isn’t it?” He added, “He gets runs when you need it the most. All he has to do is fail one game, and sometimes play to the situation, and hence end up playing a little slow, and we’re ready to pounce on him.”
Karthik’s words ring true, as Rahul has often been criticized for his slow batting style, particularly in the shorter formats of the game. However, what his critics often forget is that Rahul is a batsman who plays to the situation and is capable of adapting to different conditions and opposition. His ability to anchor the innings and play long knocks has been invaluable to the Indian team, and his statistics bear testament to this.
In fact, Rahul has been one of the most consistent batsmen for India in recent times, with a impressive average in both ODIs and T20Is. He has been particularly effective in the middle order, where he has played some crucial knocks to help India win matches. His ability to rotate the strike and find boundaries at will has made him a nightmare for opposition bowlers, and his experience and skill have been invaluable to the Indian team.
Despite his impressive performances, Rahul has often found himself under pressure and scrutiny from fans and pundits. His slow batting style has been criticized, and he has been accused of not being able to rotate the strike quickly enough. However, what his critics often forget is that Rahul is a batsman who plays to the situation, and his slow batting style is often a result of the conditions and the opposition.
In the second ODI against New Zealand, for example, Rahul played a slow but steady knock, anchoring the innings and helping India recover from a spot of bother. His unbeaten 112 was a testament to his skills and experience, and his ability to adapt to the conditions and play to the situation. Despite his slow batting style, Rahul was able to find boundaries at will and rotate the strike effectively, making him a nightmare for the New Zealand bowlers.
Karthik’s comments in support of Rahul are a timely reminder of the importance of appreciating and valuing our players. As a fan base, we often take our players for granted, criticizing them when they fail and forgetting their contributions when they succeed. Rahul is a prime example of this, as he has often been criticized for his slow batting style despite his impressive performances.
However, Karthik’s comments are not just a defense of Rahul, but also a reminder of the importance of understanding and appreciating the game of cricket. Cricket is a game of nuances and complexities, and players like Rahul who have the ability to adapt and play to the situation are invaluable. As fans, we need to appreciate and value these players, rather than criticizing them for their slow batting style or other perceived shortcomings.
In conclusion, Dinesh Karthik’s comments in support of KL Rahul are a timely reminder of the importance of appreciating and valuing our players. Rahul’s unbeaten 112 against New Zealand was a testament to his skills and experience, and his ability to adapt and play to the situation. As a fan base, we need to appreciate and value players like Rahul, rather than criticizing them for their perceived shortcomings. By doing so, we can create a more positive and supportive environment for our players, and help them to perform to the best of their abilities.