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Wednesday, 27 February 2019

KL Rahul reflects on Koffee With Karan controversy: It was a hard time for me

KL Rahul during his 47-run knock in the 2nd T20I vs Australia (AP Photo)
KL Rahul during his 47-run knock in the 2nd T20I vs Australia (AP Photo)

HIGHLIGHTS

  • KL Rahul scored 50 and 47 in the two-match T20I series against Australia
  • It was Rahul's first international series since the Koffee With Karan controversy in January
  • "It has humbled me a little bit," Rahul said
Brief scores - Australia (194/3) beat India (190/4) by 7 wickets to sweep series 2-0 in Bengaluru. Maxwell (113*), Short (40), Shankar (2/38). Scorecard | Highlights
India opener KL Rahul marked his international return with a couple of good knocks in the two-match Twenty20 International series against Australia at home. This was Rahul's first international assignment since the Koffee With Karan controversy in January.
KL Rahul, along with India teammate Hardik Pandya, talked about relationships, crushes, favourite movies, actors and actresses during the popular TV show.
However, duo's sexist and racists comments led to a massive controversy, forcing the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to put them under provisional suspension and also recalled them from Australia. The suspension was later lifted and the pair was allowed to play in international cricket pending inquiry.
"It was a hard time no doubt. I mean, as a player, as a person, everyone has to go through difficult times and it was my time to go through that and like I said it gave me time to reflect on my game, on myself. I have always been someone who takes things as it comes," said Rahul after the second T20I against Australia in Bengaluru.
India lost the short series 0-2 but Rahul made a successful comeback with scores of 50 and 47. After he was sent back from Australia, Rahul was given the opportunity to regain form in the India A home series against England Lions and he made it count.
Rahul made the most of the opportunity that came his way to lead India A by helping the young side beat England Lions in the second of the two unofficial Tests at the Srikantadatta Narasimha Raja Wadiyar Ground in Mysore earlier this month.
KL Rahul led from the front with the bat scoring 81 runs in India A's first innings. The right-handed batsman stitched a 178-run stand with fellow opener and centurion Abhimanyu Easwaran to box England Lions out of the contest in Mysore. Rahul had also scored 89 runs in the first unofficial Test in Wayanad.
"It has humbled me a little bit and you know, respect the opportunity that I have gotten to play for the country. The dream of every kid is to play for the country and I am no different. Just to value where I am, just to keep making opportunities count and put my head down and keep working on my cricket," he said.
DRAVID'S HELP
Rahul said the India A stint under coach Rahul Dravid helped him immensely.
"I got some time off from international cricket, so I could come back to India and reflect on what was not going right for me. Fortunately I got to play some India A games where the pressure is a bit less and where I could focus on my skill and my technique.
"Got to spend a lot of time with Rahul Dravid, working on my game and chatting about cricket. He helped a lot in the five games I played for India A. The time I have spent in the middle has helped. It is nice to be back with the boys and back in blue," he said.
Rahul hopes that it is a blessing in disguise that he courted controversy early in his international career.
"I hope so. Things happen like I said. Four-five years with Team India. Learnt about the game, where I stand as a cricketer, as a person so just try to get better from there and be consistent and keep performing," he said.

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