Star India wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul has said that he is well aware of his sub-40 Test average and, like any other batter, he too wants to increase it, adding that he must ensure that his game plan
is strong and he is enjoying his game, after he scored a brilliant hundred against the West Indies.
Having played 63 Tests for India, Rahul’s batting average remains under 40 at 35.41, leading many to question if it reflects his true talent. While he has often performed well on overseas tours, his numbers at home have fallen short.
Returning as an opener has sparked a purple patch in Rahul’s career, coming into his own as India’s senior-most Test batter after the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
Rahul produced the best series of his career on the England tour, amassing 532 runs in 10 innings at a stunning average of 53.2.
Rahul shared his approach to criticism about his Test stats, stressing that he focuses on enjoying the match and executing his plans rather than getting caught up in numbers.
“I don’t let it bother me, but it isn’t that I don’t see it. Obviously, I see it and ideally, any batter would want their numbers to be as high as they can be. But right now it is more important for me to make sure my game plans are tight and that I am enjoying my cricket,” Rahul said while speaking on JioHostar.
“Those are the boxes I want to tick more than thinking about numbers. There is enough sample size also for me to see that when I do these things well, automatically I start getting more runs and the numbers will go higher as well,” Rahul added.
The star Indian batter, coming off a stellar England tour, scored his 11th Test hundred on Day 2 of the opening Ahmedabad Test against West Indies, his first at home since hitting a century against the same opponents in Chennai in 2016.
