KL Rahul opened up about ‘turning his back on the dressing room’, Rahul Dravid responded, saying, ‘Mera statue nhi bana…’
New Delhi: Star India cricketer KL Rahul ahs secured his place in both the Test and ODI teams as of now, but there was a time when his spot in international cricket team was constantly under threat. Although the right-handed batter has found consistency in recent times, a few years ago there were numerous question about his form and inconsistency. The year 2023 proved to be a turning point, as he made a remarkable comeback from a serious injury sustained during the IPL season.
Rahul made an impressive comeback during the Asia Cup
Rahul, who missed the IPL 2023 season due to a tendon tear, made an impressive comeback during the Asia Cup, which India went on to win by defeating Sri Lanka in the final. On his return, he made a statement with an outstanding knock of 111 runs off 106 balls, which included 12 fours and 2 sixes, against Pakistan in the Super 4s clash in Colombo.
After reaching the milestone off Naseem Shah’s bowling, Rahul acknowledged the crowd’s by raising his bat, though notably with his back turned to the dressing room. Over two years later, the 33-year-old has finally revealed the story behind that celebration, and how it left former India head coach Rahul Dravid unhappy.
Rahul said that he wasn’t supposed to play against Pakistan
Rahul opened up and said that he wasn’t supposed to play against Pakistan as Shreyas Iyer was set to feature in the playing XI. However, a sudden back spasm ruled Iyer out, giving Rahul the opportunity to step in.
“I’ll tell you a story. So this was right after my injury. I was not supposed to play this game either. Shreyas Iyer was supposed to play, but he got a back spasm, and I ended up playing this game. For those four months, that I was out, through that hard phase, every morning I woke up and said the same thing, ‘I’ll be the best player in the world’,” said KL Rahul on the ‘2 Sloggers’ Podcast.
“I motivated myself. The dressing room was on this side, I turned my back to the dressing room and then this celebration. Rahul Dravid, the coach, got a little upset. ‘Why did you turn your back on the dressing room?’ I said, ‘No sir, I meant no disrespect’. In the four to five months that I was out, I had a dream that there was a statue of me with me celebrating like that,” he added.
Dravid was shocked when he heard about the “statue” story
Rahul, who recently featured in India’s three-match series against Australia, shared that Dravid was shocked when he heard about the “statue” story. The right-hander added that his innings against Pakistan will always hold a special place in his heart.
“He said, ‘Statue tera? Mera nahi bana, tera statue? (I don’t have a statue, but you have?” This is why this is very special to me,” said Rahul.
In that memorable match against Pakistan, Virat Kohli also smashed a century, and together with Rahul, built a 233-run stand for the third wicket. India went on to secure a dominant 228-run victory.
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