KL Rahul, the country’s stand-in Test captain, said on Tuesday (January 18) that he hasn’t given serious consideration to the idea of becoming the country’s full-time Test captain, but that if given the opportunity, he would do everything in his power to move the team and Indian cricket forward. In the absence of Virat Kohli, the 29-year-old captain of India led the team in the second Test match of the recently concluded Test series against South Africa. And now, with Virat Kohli stepping down as India’s Test captain, Rahul is being tipped as a potential replacement, alongside Rohit Sharma, for the coveted position of Test captain.
“I hadn’t given it a second thought until the names were announced, until the articles or news stories started making the rounds. It goes without saying that I had the honour of captaining the Test team in Johannesburg, and it was a truly unforgettable experience. “While the outcome did not go our way, it was a valuable learning experience for which I will be eternally grateful,” Rahul said in a virtual press conference on Tuesday.
“To be selected to represent your country is a dream come true for any player, and it is something that he will remember for a long time. I am not an exception. Being named Test captain would be a tremendous responsibility, and the prospect of taking on such a role would be both exciting and daunting. “However, I am not actively seeking employment at this time, but if the opportunity presents itself, I will do everything in my power to help Team India and Indian cricket progress to the best of my abilities,” he continued.
I’ve learnt a lot from @msdhoni and @imVkohli. @klrahul11 on his learnings from MS Dhoni & Virat Kohli and leading #TeamIndia in the ODI series against South Africa. #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/1mPm2jKDUB
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 18, 2022
The talented opener has also served as the captain of the Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League, but the team did not fare well under his guidance. If Rahul was asked about his underwhelming captaincy record in the Indian Premier League and one Test match for India, he responded with a sarcastic remark.
“Look, thanks for the information, gentleman. “It instils a great deal of confidence in me,” Rahul said with a smile.
When asked about his captaincy philosophy, the batter stated that he tries not to become overly concerned or overly pleased with the results, and that he tries to maintain a sense of balance. “I take each game as it comes, and I’m not the type of person who gets worried or stays too happy all the time. I make an effort to maintain a sense of balance when it comes to results. The series was in our hands after Centurion, and we had a great chance to win. There’s a lot to learn from this,” he said, adding that the situation was “a little unfortunate.”
Rahul, who made a forgettable Test captaincy debut against South Africa in Johannesburg, believes he will improve as a skipper with experience. “I had the opportunity to play under two outstanding captains, Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni, and I will draw on that experience when I captain my country in future games.” I am a human being, and I will make mistakes, but I will also learn and improve in my job. That’s where my thoughts are at the moment. “The One-Day International is a fresh start and a fantastic opportunity for me to captain my country,” he continued.