Centurion Rahul not comfortable batting at No. 3

KL Rahul might have played his best T20I innings batting at No.3 in the series opener at Old Trafford but opening the batting remains his preferred slot, said the opener on the eve of the series deciding 2nd T20I at Cardiff.

KL Rahul might have played his best T20I innings batting at No.3 in the series opener at Old Trafford but opening the batting remains his preferred slot, said the right-hander on the eve of the series deciding 2^nd T20I at Cardiff.

Chasing 160, Rahul smashed an unbeaten 101 off 0ff 51 balls – becoming only the second Indian after Rohit Sharma to register two T20I hundreds – to lead India to an easy 8 wicker victory on Tuesday.

“Numbers one and two are what I am most comfortable in. Shikhar (Dhawan) got out early and it still felt like I was opening the batting. It gives me a chance to get my eye in and even use the powerplay,” said Rahul.

Interestingly, Rahul’s both T20I hundreds came batting outside the opening position. His maiden century on debut, came batting at No. 4 in Florida.

It doesn’t look like Rahul would get to open the innings for India any time soon. He did open the innings in the 2^nd T20I against Ireland when Dhawan was rested but repetition of that against a strong opposition like England seems an unlikely event.

However, Rahul is prepared to make the most of the opportunities he is getting, batting at No. 3. “Whatever chances I get I should make the most of it and I am very happy that I got to bat up the order.”

He underlined the importance of batting up high being a top-order batsman himself, but also said that the team management had made it clear that all players - whether batsmen or bowlers - had to be prepared to be flexible keeping the 2019 ODI World Cup in mind.

“It has been made clear that there will be few changes in the team and as a batting unit we need to flexible in our heads to be able to perform any role or responsibility that has been given to us. We are all working towards it. We might want to promote MS Dhoni or Hardik Pandya if we get a good start, to go and get us a few sixes or get the run-rate up. So, we will be flexible keeping in mind the World Cup,” he added.

"What Kuldeep did was special as getting a five-for in a T20 game isn't easy. You can be bowling well but most times he could get away for 2 or 3 wickets and gone for 30 runs. But he kept at it. The way Chahal and Kuldeep are bowling, they're going to be dangerous throughout the series,” said Rahul.