India vs Australia 2020-21: What does Australia tour mean for KL Rahul?

India are touring Australia for series across formats. Meanwhile, KL Rahul would be the vice-captain for the tour, after regular VC, Rohit Sharma, missing out due to injury. Nonetheless, Rahul is looking to make the most of the opportunity, as he eyes a few World Cups hereon.

<p>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.</p>

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.

<p>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 <em>PTI</em>.</p>

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.

<p><strong>On current Indian wicketkeepers</strong><br />"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."</p>

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."

<p><strong>On ICC events</strong><br />"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."</p>

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."

<p><strong>On his batting position</strong><br />"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."</p>

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."

<p><strong>On his batting</strong><br />"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."</p>

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."

<p><strong>On replicating Dhoni's success as captain</strong><br />"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."</p>

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."

<p>"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."</p>

"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."

<p><strong>On his learnings as captain</strong><br />"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."</p>

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."

<p><strong>On the long international break</strong><br />"....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."</p>

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."