Anil Kumble hails KL Rahul after semifinal win against Australia, says there is undue pressure on him

Legendary Anil Kumble has showered praise on KL Rahul after the wicket-keeper bat added the finishing touches in the semifinal against Australia in the ongoing Champions Trophy at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on Tuesday.

Rahul scored an unbeaten knock of 42 runs off 34 balls in the run-chase of 265 runs against the Aussies. The flamboyant batter decided to bat aggressively in the partnership with Virat Kohli and played at the top of his game.

Kumble highlighted that there is undue pressure on KL Rahul for his place in the team and he should have batted ahead of Axar Patel even though the latter scored 27 runs.

“With the kind of innings that he had, we were talking while we were watching that, saying that he should have been ahead of Axar Patel. I know Axar did a good job of getting that partnership with Virat Kohli, but someone like KL Rahul, at that stage, this is what he can do,” Anil Kumble said on ESPNcricinfo.

“He gets to a 30, he will ensure that the team crosses the line, and he does that consistently. Yes, he missed out on one opportunity in the last game against New Zealand. But, otherwise, KL is a class act, and this will certainly give him a lot of confidence. There is a lot of pressure on him. He does well, it is expected. If he fails even in one innings, then suddenly the whole world comes on top of KL,” he added.

On the other hand, Rahul said he enjoys batting at the top of the order but he wants to do the job for the team and bat according to th side’s requirements.

“Yeah, I do [enjoy batting at the top], I mean I won’t lie. “It’s after opening the batting in Australia in Test matches and having to face that attack in Australia and you know how red-ball [cricket] is much harder. I opened the batting there and then to come here and bat low seems a bit different, but this is how I’ve played white-ball cricket in the last four-five years,” KL Rahul told Star Sports after the win over Australia.

“So, I’m quite used to going up and down the order so I’m just happy getting a chance to play in the middle and whatever role is given,” he added.

India will take on either New Zealand or South Africa in the final at Dubai on Sunday.