New Delhi: Indian cricket team's stand-in captain KL Rahul on Tuesday said for him leading the national team in Ind vs SA 2nd Test at Johannesburg was a dream come true and he'll give his best if made Test captain in future.
After the Test series, India will take on Proteas in the three-match ODI series, set to start from January 19 in Paarl. In injured Rohit's absence, Rahul has been given the captaincy job.
"Captaining the Test team in Johannesburg was a dream come true and if I am given responsibility in future I will give my best. But only focussing on the ODI series at the moment," KL Rahul said during the virtual press conference.
KL Rahul's statement comes after star batter Virat Kohli resigned as India's Test skipper. He also talked about his batting position in the upcoming Ind vs SA ODI series.
"More than last one year team needed me to bat at number 5 and after that. Now, since Rohit is not there I will bat within top 4. I am not a man who gets too worried or too happy with results. I have played under great captains like MS and Virat. I will try to put in whatever experiences I have gathered playing under them," the star batter revealed.
How important would be the role of Venkatesh Iyer ?
"He is an exciting youngster. Fast bowling all rounders are assets of the team. Great opportunity for him and he is looking good at the nets," Rahul said.
The stand-in skipper also explained importance of having spinners in the Ind vs SA ODI series
"Every venue is different. Pitch looks like it will offer a lot for the spinners than what it was there during the Test matches. Hopefully in first two matches the pitch will help the spinners. So, the role of our spinners is important.
"I am not someone who has a lot of plans or lot of targets . I take one game at a time and that is how I take things forward. Few new guys are coming into the team . We want to finish off the series on a good note," Rahul explained.
KL Rahul also reacted to end of Virat's stint as Test Captain and talked about Shikhar Dhawan's comeback.
"Under Virat we have done phenomenal things . He has done a lot of things and set a standard for all of us . We have won series abroad, he had amazing abilities to take the best out of every individual.
"Shikhar Dhawan understands what is expected out of him. For a captain like me it is just to give him the freedom and confidence to go out there and do whatever he has done over the years for the team," Rahul explained.
"In the first ten overs and the last ten overs, more runs have been scored against us, there has been talk about how to do better on this. But experimenting should also be done. It is also important to keep a sixth bowling option in team. Venkatesh Iyer is the sixth bowling option in this team. We have to make a team in which everything is flexible and everyone can play according to the plan of the team. That's why I haven't thought much about the batting position.
"I have tried to be in a space where I can give my best to the team. I don't want to take added pressure and when I am in the middle. I will think myself as a batsman. It's important to enjoy as a cricketer that's important for the success.
"No bio bubble is fun. The best has been done to make us as happy as we can. We have enjoyed our stay here so far. Cricket has been exciting. We had our learnings and we want to play the ODI series with same kind of passion and excitement," he signed off.