Centurion, December 28: Indian batsman KL Rahul has candidly discussed the challenges posed by external distractions and social media scrutiny after his century against South Africa in Centurion.
Despite Rahul’s impressive performance, scoring a century in challenging batting conditions, all attention focused on Dean Elgar’s unbeaten century for South Africa. Speaking to the media after the second day’s play, Rahul addressed criticism of his performance and acknowledged the impact of public opinion, both positive and negative.
“Social media is a pressure. Today I have scored a century, so people are praising me. Three, or four months ago, everyone was abusing me. It is part of the game, but I can’t say it affects you. It doesn’t. It happens,” Rahul explained.
He stressed the importance of understanding the impact of social media the benefits to the game and the mindset of staying away from it. Rahul also discussed the challenge of staying true to himself amid the pressure of international cricket.
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While away from the game due to injury, Rahul worked on maintaining his authenticity and not letting external factors affect his personality. He acknowledged that although it is difficult to completely avoid criticism, striking a balance and knowing where to draw the line is important for mental well-being.
As South Africa holds the lead with five wickets remaining, Rahul expressed confidence that India can disrupt Elgar’s farewell Test if the bowlers execute their plans effectively on the third day.