There might have been a lot of chatter around KL Rahul’s batting order, and his demotion to No. 6, but then the batting coach Sitanshu Kotak clarified two days before the India vs New Zealand final, that the batter is happy doing so. India has made it to their third consecutive final of the Champions Trophy and Rahul’s role in the team as a keeper and a batter is of utmost importance.
Sitanshu Kotak Addresses KL Rahul’s “Demotion”
This, especially after admitting, that he likes to bat at the top of the order. But then the coach ended the topic by saying, “He is someone who can open and also bat at number four or five. He is very happy in the role he is performing.
“It also helps him when he starts performing at that number because it is a different situation he is going in. It is great for the team,” Kotak was quoted as saying by the Hindu. Adaptability is of course the key in his game, and the same holds true for vice-captain Shubman Gill, who has been a beast in the ODIs.
Adaptability Key to Shubman’s Success
“I think he can adapt to the situation well and play according to the team’s needs. His game is such that he can be good with rotating strike, taking the game deep, and also attack if required. With his balanced approach, he has been brilliant,” said Kotak. In fact, the coach was happy with the entire batting unit clicking in the tournament.
“The pitches change a bit obviously, but the overall tendency (slow nature) has not changed much. Our batting has been really good. Secondly, in four matches, batting first or second, we have got runs from openers, and when they didn’t, the middle-order has scored.”
Undue Advantage for India in Champions Trophy?
“Till now, there has not been much need for power hitting, but that also happened in the last match.”
Kotak also had some words reserved for critics talking about India’s advantage playing at one venue only, Dubai. “I don’t understand what advantage we get from this (pitch). People feel that India got an advantage after we won the matches. I don’t know what to say about that. We just played to the draw.”
“I think in a game, you must play good cricket every day when you turn up. If you don’t play well, then you can’t complain. And if you play well, there is no point in saying whether you got an advantage or not.”
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