Controversy humbled me: K L Rahul

K L Rahul is a relieved man. Last month, the India opener went through troubled times when he was suspended for his inappropriate comments during a TV chat show. Rahul received a reprieve when the ban was provisionally lifted but he had to earn his place back in the national side by performing for India ‘A’.

With the team management focused on World Cup, Rahul was racing against time but he proved his mettle with two straight half-centuries against England Lions. The Karnataka batsman made a positive return to the national side, slamming a classy 50 and an entertaining 47 in the two-match T20I series against Australia which concluded here at the Chinnaswamy stadium on Wednesday.

The right-hander admitted that it was a tough one and a half months. “It has been a hard time, no doubt,” Rahul noted. “It has humbled me as a person. As a player, as a person everyone has to go through difficult times and it was my time to go through that. It gave me the time to reflect on my game, on myself. I have always been somebody who takes things as it comes and I am just happy to be back here now,” Rahul said after the match.

The 26-year-old, who was struggling for runs, said he focused on his technique during the period. “I got some time off from international cricket. So I could come back here and reflect on what wasn’t going right for me. Fortunately, I got to play some India ‘A’ game where the pressure is a little less. I spent a lot of time with Rahul Dravid, working on my game and chatting about cricket. He helped me a lot in the games I played for India ‘A’,” he explained.

Rahul said it was good to be back in the national set-up. “I am just happy that I have tasted a bit of success in the last two games and my batting has come out pretty well. I have always been somebody who takes things as it comes and I am just happy to be back here now.

“I obviously respect the opportunity that I have got to play for the country. It is the dream of every kid and I am no different. Just to value where I am and keep making the opportunities count by putting my head down will be my goal,” he said.