India right-handed batsman KL Rahul will be representing the Kings XI Punjab in IPL 2018 after enjoying a successful stint with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). While 2016 was a phenomenal period for the Karnataka lad, 2017 was marred by injuries. However, leaving the past behind Rahul is ready to roar with Preity Zinta’s Kings XI Punjab.
When asked if he had goosebumps starting a new journey with the Lions (KXIP is also known as the home of the lions), Rahul said, “You are always excited to start any new journey in life and this is one such thing. Yes, I have learnt a lot from RCB and other franchises like Sunrisers Hyderabad. Every franchise that you play for, you learn a lot about yourself and also learn from the teammates and the support staff. This will be a new experience and I am looking forward to it. Like I said, the way I play the game doesn’t change. It will just be more responsibility on me and I love being that person that the team looks up to when it comes to winning games and also really looking forward to a couple of months in Punjab,” Cricketnext quoted him saying.
Revealing that India skipper Virat Kohli remains as his biggest inspiration, the 25-year-old said, “He is an extremely good player and we all know the numbers that he has achieved in the years that he has played so yeah, he is a big inspiration and it is great to have a captain like him in the team who leads from the front.”
For the upcoming IPL season, Rahul is KXIP’s first-choice wicket-keeper and the batsman has changed his style of training to adapt to the challenges that come with keeping wickets and play a lead batsman’s role in a hectic format like the IPL where you play one day and travel the next day.
“When it comes to training, it has changed a lot. I am not used to keeping wickets for a long time. It’s been the IPL and a few matches here and there for my state. Physically, I have changed the way I train as I have to keep day-in and day-out for a long time as it takes a lot out of my body. I am looking to get stronger and hopefully keep away from injuries,” Rahul added.
