Sri Lanka delaying tactics no big deal, says KL Rahul
Though India looked frustrated by Sri Lanka’s tactics of delaying proceedings as they tried to save the Test, opener KL Rahulrefusedtocallthemunfair.
The hosts had a go at wicketkeeperNiroshanDickwellawho seemedtobewastingtimeduring the fifth day’s play. However, afterthehandshakes,Rahultook a lenient view of it.
“If we were in a situation like that, we would have done the same. Nobody wants to lose. Thereisnothingunfairinit. Yes, asateamwantingtowin,wewere tryingtopushinasmanyoversas we could. Five or six more overs anditcouldhavemadethedifference,” said Rahu.
Former Sri Lanka batsman Russel Arnold had backed Dickwella. “You have to love @NiroshanDikka. Great attitude and approach. The arrogance and confidence the others lack!!,” he tweeted, irking the Indian fans.
Rahul,25,saidIndiawantedto tempt Sri Lanka with a target of 200 to 250. “The plan was to play positively and set them a target (which) even they would feel could be chased because that is wherewecouldcreateopportunities,” he said.
SriLankapacerSurangaLakmaldelayedthatplanwiththree wickets in the morning, he said. “Lakmalbowledreallywell…So we had to play longer. Virat (Kohli) played afabulous knock. Thiswasexpectedofonebatsmen and he did it,” said Rahul.
“It would have been completelydifferentiftheyhadbatted first..,” said Rahul.
Rahul admittedthathehasnot been able to convert starts. “I wouldhavewantedtoconvertat least half of them into hundreds, mynumberswouldhaveshowed eight or nine hundreds (he has four). But it will come,” he said.
The wicket here is the kind India would find abroad where theywill mostlyplayforthenext twoyears.“Wewantedtoprepare for that and my innings here gives me a lot of confidence. The mindset we came out with in the second innings was positive; we didn’t wanttoletthebowlerssettle down and the partnership with Shikhar was satisfying.”
Rahul felt India’s recovery from30/4in firstinningsshowed how much they have evolved. “The bowlers did their job, the batsmen did well. There are two more Tests and we are looking forward to winning them.”
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