Batting at No. 5 in ODIs has helped KL Rahul understand his game better. After his match-winning and unbeaten 64 against Sri Lanka in Kolkata which helped India seal the series, Rahul said that batting in the middle order allows him the time to read the match situation and relax before he walks out to bat.
"One thing I really enjoy is that you don't have to rush back into batting," Rahul, who also kept wickets this series, told Star Sports. "You get time to put your feet up, have a nice cold shower, have a good meal and then relax and then see what's happening before walking in. That's the good thing about batting at No. 5.
"Batting at No. 5 has just helped me understand my game a little bit better. Given the ball is slightly older, you have to play spin straightaway and that's not what I am used to usually. Obviously Rohit [Sharma] is very clear that that's where he wants me to bat and he's conveyed that to me. So now I am challenging myself to get used to this position."
On Thursday, Rahul walked in when India were reduced to 62 for 3 in the 10th over while chasing 216. He then plugged one end up with risk-free batting and built useful partnerships with Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel to take India over the line. Rahul also credited India'a bowlers for bowling Sri Lanka out for 215 in under 40 overs, which didn't leave India with a challenging asking rate.
"The bowlers bowled really well, they kept the pressure on and when you have the team all out for 200-220, it becomes a bit easy to chase later on," Rahul said. "You know three-four runs an over is not that challenging but Sri Lanka put up a good fight. They started really well with the ball, they got the early breakthroughs and there was pressure on us, but we enjoyed ourselves in the middle. [I had] good partnership with Shreyas, Hardik and Axar."
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/rahul-batting-at-no-5-has-helped-me-understand-my-game-better-1353516
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