Indian wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul has played down worries about potential player injuries within the Indian squad as they prepare for their upcoming Champions Trophy match against New Zealand. Rahul acknowledged the pressure of potentially keeping a player like Rishabh Pant out of the starting XI and also praised the skills of Mohammed Shami.
Rahul indicated that Mohammed Shami and Rohit Sharma are expected to be fit and available for India’s final group stage game in the Champions Trophy against New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday. Concerns had arisen after Shami experienced shin discomfort and Rohit showed hamstring fatigue during the previous match against Pakistan.
“From what I understand, everything looks quite good,” Rahul stated on Friday. “There aren’t any significant concerns about anyone missing games, as far as I know. We’ll get a clearer picture after today’s training session.”
He added, “Yes, everyone has been training and in the gym. There were some initial concerns, but I believe they are not too serious.”
Both India and New Zealand have already secured their places in the semi-finals. India’s semi-final is scheduled shortly after this group game. When asked about the possibility of resting players, Rahul commented, “Fortunately, I’m not in the leadership position to make those calls. But I’m sure there might be some temptation to give opportunities to players who haven’t played yet, if the situation allows.”
He continued, “However, I’m unsure if that strategy will be used in a Champions Trophy, especially for tomorrow’s game. We have a short break before the semi-finals this time, although we had a six-day break leading up to this game. So, the team might prefer to have everyone play to get some time in the middle. This is just my personal view, and the actual decision might differ.”
Reflecting on the Dubai pitch conditions, Rahul, who scored a vital 41 not out in a previous game against Bangladesh on a challenging Dubai pitch, anticipates similar conditions. “The pitch is slow. New batsmen find it challenging to rotate the strike initially. The pace of the wicket is different from what we experienced in the England series in India. So, it takes some time to adjust.”
He noted, “The positive side is that we have played in Dubai before and on similar pitches. We anticipated this challenge and prepared accordingly by arriving a week early and practicing on similar wickets. This gave us time to adapt.”
“On such wickets,” Rahul emphasized, “it’s crucial for a set batsman to bat for a long duration. That can make a significant difference by adding those extra 30-40 runs. Continuous wickets falling can make it very difficult for new batsmen.”
Addressing his role as wicketkeeper and the presence of Rishabh Pant, Rahul admitted the internal competition. “Yes, there is pressure, I won’t deny it. Rishabh is exceptionally talented and has demonstrated his game-changing ability and aggressive style.”
“There’s always a consideration for the team management regarding team selection – whether to play Rishabh or myself. That’s always there.”
“For me, when I get an opportunity, I focus on contributing my best. I’m not trying to compete directly with Rishabh or imitate his playing style. Similarly, when Rishabh gets his chance, he plays based on his strengths and what he brings to the team. I focus on my strengths and my own game plan.”
Speaking about Mohammed Shami’s bowling, Rahul praised his teammate. “It’s funny, but in every game, Shami somehow ensures I have to make a full-length dive,” Rahul joked. “He creates opportunities for me to either look brilliant or sometimes a bit silly behind the stumps.”
“Wicketkeeping to Shami, and sometimes Bumrah in his second or third spells, is particularly challenging because of the ball’s wobble.”
“Shami’s accuracy is often overlooked. People talk about his natural talent and seam movement in any conditions, and his upright seam position. But his pinpoint accuracy and sharpness are equally important. He can surprise you with his pace. Just recently in the nets, he hit me on the helmet badge. All these qualities make him a very tough bowler to face.”
“I’m really glad to have him back in form, and I think he’s nearing his peak performance.”
