Virat Kohli pushed KL Rahul to open for India: Shoaib Akhtar credits RCB star for LSG captain's rise
India Today
Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar said that Virat Kohli played an important role in helping KL Rahul grow as a cricketer and helping him fulfill his true potential.
Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has credited Virat Kohli for helping KL Rahul grow as a cricketer by investing in his batting and giving him the opportunity to turn into the match-winner that he has become today. Akhtar said that Kohli gave Rahul the opportunity to open the innings and made him a permanent member of the Indian cricket team.
Notably, Rahul has been leading from the front for Lucknow Super Giants as the LSG skipper has amassed 537 runs in 14 matches of IPL 2022. Rahul-led Lucknow will take on the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL 2022 Eliminator at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
"Virat Kohli invested a lot in KL Rahul (when he was the Indian captain). He pushed him up to open and made him a permanent member of the Indian team. Rahul is a nice and sensible guy. He has been able to prove himself and has successfully shown that he is a serious contender for India and in the IPL as well. I think KL Rahul is going to be a major factor in the match," Akhtar said in a video on Sportskeeda.
Akhtar believes the LSG skipper must look to get the crowd behind him as well by controlling the game.
"The two new teams, Lucknow and Gujarat, had to prove a point and they have been doing that very well. I would go with KL Rahul (for this game). Let’s see if Rahul is able to get crowd support by controlling the game. He needs to focus hard on those two seconds every ball," he added.
The winner of the Eliminator between Lucknow and Bangalore will face Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Qualifier 2 in Ahmedabad on Friday to decide the second finalist of IPL 2022.
