Rahul praises Sehwag’s leadership
Kings XI Punjab opener, Lokesh Rahul, praised the Indian Premier League (IPL) side’s mentor Virender Sehwag, saying the former India star gave every player the freedom to express themselves, which helped improve their game.
Led by star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, Punjab kicked off the season on a decent note, winning five of their first six games, but faltered at the business end of the league.
“I did go up to Sehwag and spoke to him at different times. He kept his game very simple and that’s his advice to all the players – to go out, trust your gut and enjoy the game. That’s the kind of freedom he has given to everybody,” Rahul told IANS.
“And this is the brand of cricket we want to play as a team, not always keeping in mind the result. We want to be fearless and aggressive. In a tournament like the IPL, sometimes it will work and at other times it won’t. But we have to keep going,” the right-hand batsman added.
Under their new skipper, the Punjab side managed to win six out of their 14 league games to end their campaign at the penultimate spot in the IPL tally with 12 points.
“Ashwin, I think, has been great. He spends a lot of time with the youngsters. He makes it clear that he expects the team to be fearless and play with instinct,” the 26-year-old said.
“He is quite proactive on the field and has given players, including me, a lot of freedom to express myself on the field and give of my best,” he added.
The Karnataka batsman also praised swashbuckling batsman Chris Gayle.
“He is the most destructive T20 opener in the world. It is a privilege to open the batting with him and it makes my life so much easier,” Rahul said.
Commenting about Red Bull campus cricket, a university level competition that helped him grow as a cricketer, Rahul said: “(It) was a game changer for me. It gave me the platform to express myself and grow as a cricketer. Due to injuries I was dropped from the state side and, during that time in 2013, Red Bull campus cricket played a prominent role in my development.
“I was thrilled to have had a good tournament and then get selected for Karnataka in Ranji. I never looked back,” he said.
He added that Red Bull campus cricket also provides young cricketers with a stage to express themselves, and provides a fair idea of the professional game. – IANS