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I don't sulk when I'm not playing, says Rahul

Dubai - Opening batsman works on his skill and fitness when not playing for India

With Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Ambati Rayudu in top gear in the Asia Cup there seems to be little room for Lokesh Rahul in the Indian team.

The 26-year-old Bangalore lad has played in only 12 matches since making his ODI debut in 2016. To make matters worse, he has been made to play at different positions.

"It's been challenging to bat at different positions, some positions which I was not comfortable with," said Rahul who scored 60 as opener in the tied match against Afghanistan on Tuesday.

"I've always batted at the top of the order right from junior cricket and that is the most comfortable position for me but in a team sport like this you need to be flexible and whatever responsibility the team gives you, you got to put your hand up and try and give it the best you can.

"Unfortunately for me the chances that I've got in the middle haven't really gone my way but again I just look to keep working hard and improving my game. Whatever opportunities I get I try to give it my best shot.

Rahul was happy he spent time in the middle and got some runs under his belt. "It was good to be out there today (Tuesday). I got my chance and finally I wanted to make the most of it.

But no one is a sure-shot in the team so you have to wait your turn, be patient and work hard. So, whenever I don't get that chance I use that time to work on my skill and improve my fitness."

So what does Rahul do when he is not playing?

"The amount of cricket we play and the number of days we are on the road it's hard to keep fit, so when I'm not playing it's easy for me to sit and sulk and ask myself the same question as to why I'm not playing, but I try to use that time to get better.

"The team too sat me down and explained what exactly they expect out of me and I too needed to personally know in which direction I was heading," said the batsman who has a hundred to his name in this format.

Rahul was quick to defend the middle-order batsmen which crumbled chasing a modest 253 after being 110 for 1.

"I don't think we crumbled. The wicket was getting hard. When the ball starts slowing and spinning it is hard for the middle-order batsmen to come in and get the runs going.

"I don't think our middle order is a concern. I think they played really well. We all know the kind of talent and experience we have in the middle but it's about time they came good.

Personally, I don't want to take away anything from the Afghanistan bowlers and not how the wicket behaved.

"In the past year or two Afghanistan has improved a lot as a team. We have seen Rashid (Khan), Mujeeb (ur Rahman), (Mohammad) Nabi, all these guys playing in the IPL and around the world and they have been performing well. As a team, we cannot look at Afghanistan as if it will be a walkover. They are a fully competitive ODI and T20 side and they keep doing it over and over again like they did on Tuesday which was very exciting.

"As a cricketer you want to be a part of such games where both teams compete till the end. If the result had gone in our favour we would have been more happy. Nonethless we are happy we played a game like this which will stay in our memory for a long time."

clareto@khaleejtimes.com