Rahul: 'This game has helped me gain confidence'

The 24-year-old spoke to the media about staying in touch with the Indian team management during the layoff, regaining full fitness and more...

Published : Nov 14, 2016 20:02 IST , Vizianagaram

Playing his first match since injuring his hamstring in September, K. L. Rahul has shown little ring rust. The opener scored a fluent 76 in Karnataka's first essay, against Rajasthan here, and followed this up with an unfinished 32 in the second innings.

The 24-year-old spoke to the media about staying in touch with the Indian team management during the layoff, regaining full fitness and more…

Excerpts:

Back in action:

I’m feeling really good. You can spend time in the gym, but you never know if your body is fully healed until you play a few games. This game has helped me gain confidence.

Interaction with Indian team management during the injury layoff:

When you’re out of the team, sometimes you can be a forgotten man. But I’ve never felt that way. Every second day, I’ve gotten a call from the trainer, physio and coach. They want to know how I'm feeling — physically and mentally. I’ve spent a lot of time away; I miss being part of the Indian team. I can't wait to get back.

Proving his match-fitness to chairman of selectors M.S.K. Prasad, who was present at the venue:

To be honest, I did not know that he was here. I don’t have to prove anything to anybody. I just focussed on my game, getting fit and getting rid of any niggles.

Travelling with the National Cricket Academy physio:

The NCA physio is here to make sure that I’m moving well. If the need arises, I can take his help. We want to be 100 per cent sure that I’m fit when I come back. It doesn’t make sense for me to come back into the team and then get injured again. The team combination and the mood in the dressing room changes when this happens.

Injury prevention:

How much ever training we do, with the amount of cricket we play, injuries are bound to happen. Maybe I have to take care of my nutrition, recovery and all the other small things. Sometimes, we miss out on these small things when we focus on the big picture.

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