India look set for a gruelling tour of Australia from Friday, which poses numerous challenges for the visitors. Nonetheless, the Indian talents, including new vice-captain KL Rahul, are looking ahead to the tour, to prove their worth, as they would be facing one of the most stringent Australian squads in recent times.
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Meanwhile, Rahul has some responsibility on his shoulders, besides regular skipper Virat Kohli. Also, he would be looking to fill up the void at the top-order, created due to regular vice-captain and opener Rohit Sharma missing out, due to hamstring strain. Being a wicketkeeper as well, he is focusing on the department, as he responded to a few queries by PTI.
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On current Indian wicketkeepers"It helps the team combination a little more and it's something I would love to do...if the opportunity presents itself and I can keep in three World Cups, I would love to do it for my country. I did one series in New Zealand and quite enjoyed it and hopefully, I can be better at reading the game and give bowlers and captains some good feedback for the bowlers and the captain."
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On ICC events"Nothing has been told to me and we are not thinking that far as a team. Obviously, World Cups are important and that is a long-term vision for every team and country. I think for me, we are just taking one game at a time. So, if I put up consistent performances with bat and gloves, it gives us an option of playing an extra bowler or an extra batter."
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On his batting position"What the team wants from me and what combination sits better. Obviously, the last ODI series (against New Zealand) that we played, I batted at no.5, it's a role that I have enjoyed and (I am) happy to play whatever role the team gives me."
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On his batting"I wouldn't call my batting power-hitting, that's something I honestly feel like I have not been able to do or not what I am blessed with. I am blessed with certain skills and I try and play the role I feel the team requires me to play at that particular moment. If that means scoring runs at 160-170 strike-rate, I try to do that to the best of my ability, and if it's the other way around, I will try to do that."
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On replicating Dhoni's success as captain"Look, obviously, nobody can fill MS Dhoni's place. He has shown us the way and how the wicketkeeper-batsman role is performed. With Kuldeep, Yuzi and Jaddu, we have a decent friendship, and obviously, I will go and give them a feedback, as to what is a better length if they are doing something wrong and anybody in wicketkeeper's role will have that responsibility."
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"I did get a little bit of a feel with the IPL. I had to play a similar role there. It was challenging, new, got used to the role and started enjoying it. Yeah, hopefully, I will continue the same over here. When you are playing for the country, you have 11 of the bebest-skilleduys, great cricket minds all by themselves and an able and passionate leader like Virat. You look forward to a new responsibility."
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On his learnings as captain"Something, I learnt from the IPL is how to stay in the moment. While batting, I think as a batter and see how I can win the game as batter. As a keeper, in the last three-four seconds, when the bowler is running in, you do not think as a leader. This is important going ahead for me."
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On the long international break"....I have never got a long run like this. So yeah, it feels good that I am contributing to team's win and playing my role pretty well. Happy that I can put up consistent performances. ...I have actually forgotten the last innings I played and scored a hundred in New Zealand (century in Mount Mangnui in February)...it's a fresh start for everybody and like I said, its important for us as a team to start well and enjoy being out there in the middle."
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