Mumbai: India secured a thrilling win in the 1st ODI against New Zealand, led by Virat Kohli’s brilliant 93, Shubman Gill’s crucial fifty, and KL Rahul’s composed finishing. Speaking on JioHotstar’s Amul Cricket Live, Rahul, along with JioStar experts Irfan Pathan and Aakash Chopra, reflected on India’s middle-order mastery and the impact of experience and adaptability in high-pressure chases.
KL Rahul explained how batting in the middle order has refined his understanding of the game: “I walk in and look at the scoreboard to see what’s needed. Opening gives you many overs to plan, but batting at five or six is different—you come in under pressure, often needing to hit from ball one. One mistake and the blame falls on you. But this role is exciting. Every time I’ve been under pressure, I’ve found a way to get the team over the line. I’m happy and adaptable—put me anywhere, I’ll do the job.”
Rahul also spoke about mentoring young pace bowler Harshit Rana during the tense chase: “Batting with Harshit in the final overs was fun. I had to calm him down, guide him on taking calculated risks, and get me back on strike. He has great potential—tall, fast, and a capable batter too. Sometimes he’s overconfident, but that’s better than no confidence. Once he got a few boundaries, the plan became simple—one boundary per over and calculated risks.”
On how experience and injuries shaped his mindset, Rahul added: “I need to be happy off the field to be excited to play. Injuries gave me time to improve my game, work on fitness, and enjoy family time. Batting at five or six in ODIs has been part of my process since 2019-20. Facing different conditions across formats keeps me grounded and excited. I go with whatever comes—success or failure—which helps me perform well.”
Irfan Pathan praised Virat Kohli’s historic achievements: “Virat is special. He has over 28,000 international runs, second only to Sachin Tendulkar. Playing five-match ODI series allows fans to see him in top form, and his level at 37 is remarkable. I want to see him get closer to Sachin’s 34,000-run record.”
Aakash Chopra highlighted Rahul’s versatile finishing, comparing him to MS Dhoni: “KL Rahul showed remarkable composure in the chase. Many expected big shots from him immediately, but he paced the innings intelligently, taking singles when needed and finding boundaries at the right moment. His ability to control the chase, especially in death overs, is Dhoni-like. He excels in the toughest modern role—the finisher—while remaining adaptable to open, keep wickets, or even captain.”
With Kohli’s masterclass and Rahul’s smart finishing, India showcased the depth, composure, and adaptability of its middle order, setting the tone for a competitive ODI series.
