Barring a major setback at the eleventh hour, the waiting game will finally end for KL Rahul on August 18 (Thursday) when Team India walks out at the Harare Sports Club to face Zimbabwe in the first ODI. The star Indian batter, who will also lead the country against the minnows, will mark his return to cricket after spending over two months away from the sport due to injury and COVID-19.
Rahul, who was not initially named in India's squad, will lead the country for the fourth time in ODIs on Thursday. He replaced Shikhar Dhawan, who was earlier named as the captain when the squad was first announced.
When asked about his captaincy style and how it's different than legendary captain MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma, Rahul was quick to downplay the comparison while lavishing praise on the aforementioned leaders.
"I do not compare. The names you have taken, I cannot even compare myself with these guys as a leader," Rahul said while addressing a press conference ahead of the first ODI.
"Their numbers and achievement are far greater. What they have done for the country, I do not think anyone should be put in the same bracket as them. You should not be comparing anybody, I am still young and this is my second series as captain.
"I have played under them both and I have learnt a lot. You learn good qualities from teammates, and I have picked up some qualities from these guys. When the captain is true to himself, it spreads in the team. I am a calm person so I cannot go out there and try and be something else. I believe that is not fair to myself and the team. You let the other players express themselves like they want to," he continued.
Rahul will be Rohit Sharma's deputy in the upcoming Asia Cup, which is scheduled to be played between August 27 and September 11 in the UAE.
While commenting on his captaincy, Rahul said that he is looking forward to the challenge of leading a young Indian side.
"First of all, I look at myself as a player. I am only captain or leader once you cross the boundary line, we have played together for a long time, with the same group. We have played a lot of IPL cricket together, there is a lot of respect for the talent everybody has and how they have performed. It is good fun, for me, I have been away for two months, so just to get back into that Indian dressing room, and to have laughter around the group is great. You try to have a quiet word with everybody and share your experiences of what the conditions were when you last played here," the 30-year-old added.
"It is a great challenge for me as a leader to get this young group to perform to the best of their ability. It is important for any player to be shown faith by the selectors, captain, or coach. It gives you so much confidence. Knowing that your support team is backing you even when you have missed the last two months, knowing what you have done for the country, makes it easy. That gives you a lot of confidence and it is important. Players thrive when there is a comfortable environment. That is when a player can go from a good player to perhaps a great player," he opined.
The Karnataka batter hasn't played competitive cricket since the Indian Premier League (IPL 2022) season. Rahul, who has led the national side in one Test match (versus South Africa), was in line to make his T20I captaincy debut against South Africa at home but after sustaining a devastating injury on the eve of the first game, the 30-year-old was sidelined.
Later, Rahul underwent a surgery for sports hernia in Germany and was gaining speed to return to international cricket during India's tour of West Indies. But this time it was the dreaded COVID-19 that prolonged Rahul's time away from the sport.
Injury, surgery and Covid-19 has cost Rahul several matches this year, including the postponed one-off Test match between India and England at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
The elegant right-handed batter was in imperious nick during the 15th edition of the cash-rich tournament. Rahul ended the competition with 616 runs (second-most after Jos Buttler's tally of 863 runs) in 15 matches with the help of four half-centuries and two tons.
