India’s wicket-keeper KL Rahul has revealed he has been assigned the role of batting at number four and keeping wickets by the team management. Rahul hasn’t played a lot of ODI cricket in the ongoing season but he was given the gloves in the first ODI against Bangladesh at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka on Sunday in the absence of Rishabh Pant.

Pant was earlier released from the ODI squad on the advice of the BCCI’s medical team for unknown reasons. Meanwhile, Rahul top-scored with 73 runs and played a key role in helping India post 186 runs on the board against the Tigers.

Rahul’s knock was studded with five fours and four sixes as he was India’s best batsman on the day.

KL Rahul said in the post-match press conference, “We have not played many ODIs in the past 6-7 months, but if you look from 2020-21, I have kept wickets and batted at four. I have been assigned this role by the team. I don’t exactly know the reason for Pant’s release. The medical team will be able to tell why Pant was released.”

The Karnataka batter believes he could have stayed longer at the crease and then the team would have scored 230-240 runs. Rahul was dismissed while trying to play a pull shot but got an upper edge which ballooned to a deep fine leg fielder.

“It was just one of those days where I was timing the ball better than everyone else. Every shot that I played and the options I took worked for me today. I have been working on it in the last couple of net sessions in Bangladesh. I tried to challenge myself on this pitch, and I am pleased with my inning. Towards the end, I could’ve stayed longer and taken our score to 230-240. I fancied getting there.”

Rahul had a good day with the bat but he bungled Mehidy Hasan’s catch when he was on 15. Hasan went on to score an unbeaten knock of 38 runs to take his team to a famous win.

The second ODI between Bangladesh and India will be played on Wednesday at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka.