KL Rahul feels he has got nothing to lose: Shane Watson
KL Rahul feels he has got nothing to lose: Shane Watson. Former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson wants opener KL Rahul to approach the T20 World Cup with a “nothing to lose” mentality, which is when the Indian batsman is at his most effective.
Rahul’s batting average has been scrutinized in recent matches, including the Asia Cup and the current home series against South Africa.
Questions were raised about Rahul’s motivation as he finished with 51 not out off 56 balls in India’s first T20 against the Proteas, even though they needed to score only 107 to win.
Watson told PTI that Rahul should attack from Australia’s first ball of the World Cup.
KL Rahul is a favorite batter of mine. His best batting, in my opinion, is when he is not attempting to exert any sort of command over the game and is instead just going for it.
When he is simply responding to the descending ball, he has strokes all over the field, even against the world’s top bowlers.
When he has nothing to lose, he can strike at 180 without taking any unnecessary chances, and that’s my favorite thing to see. “If he can do that (in Australia), there will be a lot of bowlers in problems,” said one of Australia’s top all-rounders.
Watson is in India for the Legends League Cricket tournament right now.
“Biggest concern is India’s quick bowling.”
India’s speed attack appears to be their weakest link, particularly in light of the injury concerns surrounding Jasprit Bumrah’s participation in the ICC event.
Watson shares this view, and if Bumrah is ruled unfit to play in the World Cup, he should be replaced by Mohammad Siraj.
The Indian batting lineup has the potential to perform really well in Australian conditions, but their fast bowling is a major area of concern.
Spinners Axar Patel and Yuzi Chahal are as talented as anyone in the world in all conditions; the question is if the fast bowling, without Bumrah in particular, can perform abilities under pressure at the end of the game. There, opposing teams would attempt to lay bare India. Without Bumrah, India needs a bowler capable of throwing the ball faster than 140 kilometers per hour, according to Watson.
Without Bumrah, we have a real problem (a lack of express pace), thus Siraj is a good backup plan.
With the new ball, he can reach speeds of up to 150 kilometers per hour when swinging it away, and he has the ability to finish off a game well.
According to the 41-year-old, he would rather have Siraj in the squad than Mohammad Shami because “he adds that element that other Indian bowlers don’t necessarily have.”
“Way Hardik is batting and bowling is special”
Watson, another excellent all-rounder, has praised Hardik Pandya, claiming that the Indian team will benefit greatly from his presence in every match.
Hardik has been reliable with bat and ball ever since he returned from injury.
I get really excited when I see an all-rounder like Hardik bowl with pace and strike the ball well. Seeing him overcome physical obstacles and bowl at a high level right now is quite inspiring.
You can count on him to win every time. When he bowls, it can have a significant effect on the game. He has seen a meteoric rise in his batting average.
Remarks
As his teammates put it, “Everyone understood he had the actual technique to bat through the middle overs and not simply be a power hitter at the finish. He has demonstrated this. He’s bowling at 140 or more, Watson remarked.
The pleasant Aussie is also rooting for Virat Kohli to score a ton of runs in Australia, as he has in the past.
What he’s doing now is fantastic, and it’s great to see him back on top form. What’s fantastic is that he got a break and can recharge his batteries now.
You could tell he was back to his best by the strokes he played against Australian quicks in the most recent series. In a brief discussion of Australian cricket, Watson suggested that, with Aaron Finch’s retirement, either Steve Smith or David Warner may lead the One-Day International team.
About the ball-tampering affair in South Africa, he believes the duo has “toned for the faults it made.”
We’ll have to wait and see which direction Australia goes. Two of their players, Warner and Smith, are currently waiting. Though I doubt they would actually pursue that course, I think they should because they have already paid a high price for their folly.
We have to let this go and choose the best individual for the position who can provide results even under duress.