Stylish India batter KL Rahul played the leading role in DC’s comfortable win, making 77 off 51 balls while opening the innings, having batted at number four in the last match.”It’s just how it’s been! I am quite used to it. I was personally prepping to play at the top of the order before the IPL started. I had a chat with the coach, and he said he wanted me to bat at No. 4 because we had a player who didn’t turn up,” Rahul said.
The wicketkeeper-batter was pushed up to the top after an injury ruled out regular opener Faf du Plessis from this game.
“I was happy that I got the opportunity today at the top of the order. It’s more mental, and the pattern and process of getting in. Just getting used to walking in at a particular stage. I like to get used to doing the same thing.”Since I’ve been going up and down the order, it takes me a few minutes to get used to it. That’s something I’ve been working on – to not take those two or three balls. I started off really well, but through the middle, it was a bit scratchy.”Rahul, who struck six fours and three sixes while anchoring the DC innings, praised Abhishek Porel, skipper Axar Patel and Sameer Rizvi, with whom he had some useful partnerships.”Those quick 20-25 runs (from Porel) set up the game. It really sets you up. I had a couple of partnerships like that with Axar and Abishek Porel.”I hit a few boundaries early on in the powerplay, and kept losing wickets at the wrong time when I wanted to go. Towards the end, the weather and the heat got to me; I got cooked.” Axar, who bowled just one over in the match, said he was “saving himself” after suffering an injury on his finger.”I didn’t expect it to be easy (on winning three on the bounce). Everyone contributed, the team balance looks good. Feels good as a captain to win three out of three,” he said.Asked about not bowling enough, Axar said, “I was saving myself (today) and I also have an inured finger.”Every match, there are some great catches and some drops as well. As a captain, I don’t think we have played a perfect match yet. IPL is a long tournament, the momentum can swing anytime.”
