India's white-ball cricket needs urgent transformation: KL Rahul after ODI series defeat in South Africa
India Today
Vice-captain KL Rahul, while speaking to Sports Today, says that India may have played good cricket in the last four or five years but the team's white-ball cricket needs urgent transformation.
Vice-captain KL Rahul said that the Indian team's white-ball cricket needs urgent transformation while adding that he has full confidence in his leadership skills after his team suffered a 3-0 whitewash in the ODI series against South Africa.
A 3-0 drubbing in South Africa is surely a timely reminder that India needs to overhaul their approach to limited-overs cricket, as the team led by KL Rahul were whitewashed after their four-run loss in Cape Town on Sunday.
"It's a huge honour and it's a dream come true to represent my country and lead my country. Yes, the results didn't go our way but I think there were massive learning. We are at a stage right now where we have World Cups as the focus and we are working towards getting better as a team. I feel like we have played very good cricket over the last four or five years but it's also time for us to get better and transform our white-ball cricket," KL Rahul told Sports Today in an exclusive chat.
'I am confident in my leadership skills'
Rahul's captaincy has been questioned by many experts with few suggesting that he may have perhaps blow his chance towards being a long-term option across formats. However, Rahul stated that he has full confidence in his leadership skills.
Rahul's bowling changes didn’t work in the middle overs in the ODI series and after watching Temba Bavuma make some inspired moves like starting the attack with Aiden Markram, he introduced Ravichandran Ashwin early in one game but that was more of a reactive move rather than a pro-active one.
"I don't use that as an excuse for not winning, but I think we are a work in progress as a team. I learned so much while leading. Losses make you so much stronger than starting off with victories. My career has always been that way. I have always got everything slowly. I am confident in my leadership skills and I know that I can bring out the best from my players. I know I can do well for my country and franchise," Rahul added.
