“I do not know an excessive amount of however from no matter I do know I feel every thing appears fairly okay,” Rahul mentioned on Friday. “There is no actual considerations about anybody lacking video games so far as I do know. We’ll in all probability know extra in immediately’s coaching.
“Yeah everybody’s been within the fitness center, everybody’s been at coaching the final time as properly, so yeah [there were previously] some considerations however I do not assume it is an excessive amount of.”
India, like New Zealand, go into this recreation figuring out they’ve already certified for the semi-finals. And for India, that semi-final will come two days later, on March 4. Will the brief turnaround in video games immediate India to relaxation anybody? “Fortunately I’m not within the management group to must make that call,” Rahul mentioned. “However I’m certain there will likely be some temptation and we’ve got been in these positions earlier than the place, if there is a chance, you possibly can check out the gamers who have not gotten video games.
“However I do not know if that can occur in a Champions Trophy. And I do not know if that can occur in tomorrow’s recreation. We solely have at some point’s break earlier than the semi-finals [but] we’ve got gotten a six-day break now. So, we in all probability need all the gamers to play the sport and get somewhat little bit of time within the center. That is my model. I do not know, it could be very completely different tomorrow.”
“However the good factor is that we’ve got performed in Dubai earlier than. And we performed on pitches like this. We had a good understanding that after we come right here, this would be the problem. So we had been mentally somewhat bit ready and we got here right here per week early and the observe we had been doing additionally had comparable wickets. It simply gave us somewhat little bit of time to get used to it.”
“I’m not making an attempt to compete with Rishabh or I’m not making an attempt to play like him. When he will get his alternatives, I’m certain he isn’t going to attempt to play like anyone else. He’s picked on the premise of how he can play and what he can present for the workforce and the identical applies to me.”
Rahul on retaining Pant out
“I feel on such wickets, whoever is the set batter, the longer he performs, the higher it’s for the workforce. And that is what offers you that additional 30-40 runs. As a result of if the wickets maintain going, the brand new batters will discover it a bit troublesome.”
“So sure, there’s at all times the temptation for the workforce as properly, whoever is the captain, the coach… There’s at all times that temptation to both play him or play me. There’s at all times that.
“However yeah, for me, if I am given the chance, I try to see what I can do finest. I’m not making an attempt to compete with Rishabh or I’m not making an attempt to play like him. When he will get his alternatives I’m certain he isn’t going to attempt to play like anyone else. He’s picked on the premise of how he can play and what he can present for the workforce and the identical applies to me. So I try to do what I do finest and try to keep on with my recreation.”
“He is very correct. That is one thing that not many individuals speak about. Everybody talks about how he is gifted and the way he can get the ball to seam in any situation and the way upright his seam is. However not many individuals speak about how correct he’s and the way sharp he’s.”
Rahul on Shami
In his function as keeper, Rahul additionally had excessive reward for Shami. “Funnily, one way or the other, in each recreation he’ll guarantee that I am diving full-length,” Rahul quipped. “He offers me one or two alternatives to be sensible behind the stumps or look silly generally.
“With wicketkeeping, I feel [he’s] one of many few bowlers that the ball actually wobbles. Him and generally Bumrah when he bowls within the second or third spell. In order that’s been very difficult.
“And yeah, [Shami is] very correct. That is one thing that not many individuals speak about. Everybody talks about how he is gifted and the way he can get the ball to seam in any situation and the way upright his seam is. However not many individuals speak about how correct he’s and the way sharp he’s. He can shock you along with his tempo. Simply the opposite day within the nets he hit me straight within the [helmet] badge. So, all of this stuff make him a really troublesome bowler to play towards.
“Actually glad to have him again and I feel he is very near his finest.”