KL Rahul reflected on how Rohit Sharma’s calm demeanor complements Virat Kohli’s benchmark-setting leadership style on the field.
KL Rahul attributed his rapid success as captain of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the IPL to his newfound trust in his instincts, a trait he admitted he initially lacked. Under his leadership, LSG reached the playoffs in their first two IPL seasons, with hopes high for a third consecutive appearance.
When speaking on R. Ashwin’s YouTube channel, Rahul emphasized the importance of team building, acknowledging past mistakes, and highlighting the critical role of key players and strategic acquisitions.
“Building a team is about players you pick, key positions you can’t afford to miss in the auction. First few years of me captaining, I am not shy to admit, I made a few mistakes as well,” he said.
Notably, reflecting on the contrasting leadership styles of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Rahul praised Rohit’s calming presence and Kohli’s inspirational approach. Additionally, he lauded M S Dhoni and Kane Williamson as gentlemen of sportsmanship, recognizing their excellent conduct both on and off the field.
“Rohit brought sense of calmness in the dressing room. The passion remains the same. It also helps that people have understood their roles and have had enough time to adjust to those roles. Virat had already set the benchmark on how to be on the field and Rohit carried on with a bit of calmness,” Rahul added.
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Before leading Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), KL Rahul captained Punjab Kings for two IPL seasons without reaching the playoffs. As a seasoned leader, having also captained India, he emphasized balancing intuition with team management advice.
Working closely with head coach Justin Langer and having collaborated with Anil Kumble and Andy Flower in the past, Rahul explained navigating the challenge of filtering information as a captain.
“There is so much information coming as you captain. Which one to take and which one to not and see you have a gut feel which is against what the coaches are saying. Initially, it was hard to go against that as culturally we are taught to respect the elders. Somehow things did not go according to plan and I was not being able to sleep. I have realized you need to build the trust and bond not only with the players but also with the coaches. We both want the same thing,” the LSG skipper concluded.
Last Updated on April 18, 2024
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