Indian wicketkeeper-batter, KL Rahul, praised the young Sri Lankan spinner, Dunith Wellalage, for his brilliant five-wicket haul in the Asia Cup 2023. However, Rahul didn’t shy away from issuing a spirited challenge to Wellalage for future encounters.
After India’s 41-run victory over Sri Lanka in the Super Four clash at R. Premadasa Stadium on September 12, KL Rahul acknowledged Wellalage’s exceptional performance, noting that the Sri Lankan spinner was the most menacing bowler until he was at the crease.
He commended Wellalage’s accuracy, highlighting that he played a pivotal role by taking five top-order Indian wickets. Rahul also praised Wellalage for his batting contribution. Rahul went on to deliver a stern warning to the young spinner, stating, “The next time we play, we will go after him.”
Dunith Wellalage’s five-wicket haul included the dismissals of key Indian batters such as Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Hardik Pandya. Despite his impressive efforts, Sri Lanka fell short, getting bowled out for 172 runs while chasing a target of 214 runs.
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KL Rahul elaborated on his approach, emphasizing the importance of adapting shot selection based on the bowler and prevailing conditions. He highlighted the dynamic nature of decision-making during a match, where a player must assess the situation and conditions to make the right shot choices.
Rahul stated, “After playing the first few balls, I tried to figure out what are the shots that I can play here. You can get into your shell, defend, and try to defuse the threat, but I thought I would try to play my shots but be careful about what shots to choose against which bowler. That is sort of an on-the-go decision you make.”
“I’m glad the shot selections I made till the point I got out worked well. Maybe next time it might be a bit different. Yesterday was different. We were able to play more shots, but today was different. As a batter, you try to assess the situation and conditions and decide what shots you can play,” he concluded.
KL Rahul’s comeback in international cricket against Pakistan, following an extended injury layoff, proved pivotal for India. He was included in the playing XI after Shreyas Iyer was ruled out due to back spasms. Rahul went on to form a match-defining partnership with Virat Kohli, scoring an unbeaten century.