KL Rahul, a prominent batsman of the Indian cricket team, has been facing a phase of erratic performances in recent times. His lackluster performance in the T20 World Cup held last year led to his exclusion from the team’s shortest format.
Despite leading the team in the Test series against Bangladesh in December 2022, Rahul had to relinquish his position as the vice-captain of the squad. Furthermore, he was left out of the playing eleven in the final two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year.
Adding to his woes, KL Rahul suffered a hamstring injury while captaining the Lucknow Super Giants in the 2023 Indian Premier League. As a result of the injury, he will not be able to participate in the upcoming World Test Championship final against Australia.
KL Rahul has been facing severe criticism from fans and some former cricketers on social media, with many demanding his removal from the squad. In a recent podcast with popular YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia, also known as ‘BeerBiceps,’ the Indian opener finally broke his silence on the issue.
While he expressed gratitude towards those who supported him during his difficult period, he also spoke about the harmful effects of online hate on a sportsperson.
During the podcast, KL Rahul expressed his gratitude towards those who supported him during his difficult phase. However, he also highlighted the adverse effects of online hate on a sportsperson, citing how it can impact their mental health and confidence. Rahul stressed on the importance of maintaining a positive outlook and using criticism constructively to improve oneself, rather than letting it affect one’s game.
KL Rahul began the podcast by expressing his gratitude towards the people who supported him during his tough times. He acknowledged that his recent performances on the field had not been up to the mark, but the overwhelming support he received showed that he had made a positive impact on people’s lives beyond just his cricketing abilities.
Rahul then spoke about the negative impact of online hate and how it affects not only him but also other players. He highlighted the ease with which people jump on the bandwagon to make things worse for someone who is already down and how such comments can impact a player’s mental health. Rahul emphasized that all players, including himself, take their game seriously and work hard to improve, and no one wants to perform poorly.
“It’s so easy in modern day to… when you see negative comments, when you see someone is down, a few people pick on it and all of them just want to jump on the train and make that person worse than he’s already feeling,” said the Indian opening batsman.
He also urged people to empathize with players and understand their struggles, rather than being quick to criticize and attack them. Finally, he stated that players should use criticism constructively and focus on improving their game, rather than letting it bring them down.