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Rahul opened up on his time with IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru and opined that his return to the Karnataka-based franchise back in 2016 could have been a remarkable period.
KL Rahul. (X)
Indian batter KL Rahul opened up on his time with IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru and opined that his return to the Karnataka-based franchise could have been a fairytale.
Rahul, who made his IPL debut for RCB in the year 2013, could only make four appearances for the side, walking out to bat twice, before he was picked up by Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of the 2014 season.
The Karnataka lad returned to RCB in 2016 and featured in 14 games for the side and made 397 runs.
“In 2016, when I went back to RCB, it could have been a fairytale story, most enjoyed playing at RCB,” Rahul began.
“Bangalore is home and the people there know me as a local Kannada boy,” he added.
However, he was forced out of the 2017 season with an injury and was picked up by Punjab Kings ahead of the 2018 season where he excelled and went on to captain the side, before being drafted to the Lucknow Super Giants in the 2022 campaign.
“Unfortunately in sports, your best is not good enough always,” he added.
Rahul, who is experiencing a lean patch voiced that he has always been a fighter and has always sought to improve his skills.
“I have always been someone who has tried very hard and I’ll find a way to bounce back. I’ll find a way to better my cricket. I am okay with any role or any responsibility,” the 32-year-old added.
Rahul did not feature in the list of players retained by LSG ahead of the upcoming mega auction as he wanted to move onto pastures anew citing freedom to express himself with the bat being a crucial reason.
“I wanted to start fresh, I wanted to explore my options and I wanted to go and play where I could find some freedom. Team atmosphere would be lighter, sometimes you just need to move away and find something good for yourself and I have been out of the T20 team for a while,” he added.
Rahul expressed his awareness of his capabilities as a player and the steps needed to regain his form. He expressed his anticipation for the upcoming IPL season, viewing it as a platform for rejuvenation and a chance to reclaim his spot in the T20 team.
Rahul, who has not played for Indian in the shortest format of the game for over two years now stated that he is aware of his potential and abilities and is focused on making it back to the big time and opined that he eyes the upcoming season of the IPL as a pathway back to his best.
“I know where I stand as a player and I know what I need to do to get back,” Rahul said.
“I look forward to this IPL season giving me that platform to go back and enjoy my cricket. My aim is to obviously get back into the T20 team,” he concluded.
