"I third-wheeled on one of the dinner dates" - When Anushka Sharma helped KL Rahul overcome disappointment after 2014 Test debut
Team India veteran KL Rahul once revealed how popular Bollywood star and wife of teammate Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma, helped him overcome the disappointment of his international debut in 2014. The star batter expressed gratitude towards Anushka for going out of her way to be there for him.
Rahul debuted for India in the third Test of the 2014/15 Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Melbourne. He endured low scores of 3 and 1 in the two innings despite India managing a draw.
In a talk show with Renil Abraham six years ago, Rahul recollected how Anushka helped him overcome the low point of failing on his India debut.
"Both of them (Anushka and Virat) have been very good to me and I have a great story to tell you. Anushka was there to watch the Melbourne match. She could see that I was down and dejected (with personal performance) while my thoughts were all over. Anushka came to my room and told me she isn't going to let me sit alone and think about cricket and added that she and Virat are going to take me out," said Rahul.
Rahul also admitted to being a third wheel on many of Kohli and Anushka's dates.
"I third-wheeled on one of the dinner dates. Both Virat and Anushka shared their stories describing moments when they had endured failure in their careers. That made me feel like that I wasn't the only one who ruined his first impression. We had a week's break before the next game and they took me out every time with them. They are a powerful couple and have had a great influence on me as a couple," Rahul added.
Rahul responded immediately with the bat in the next game - the fourth Test at Sydney - with a sparkling 110 in the first innings. His career took off from that point, and the stylish batter has played 50 Tests for India, with 2,863 runs to his name.
"It was nice of Anushka to do it as I didn't know how she could understand what I was going through" - KL Rahul
KL Rahul thanked Anushka Sharma on the same talk show for her classy act after his twin failures on debut.
Kohli and Anushka married each other in December 2017. The couple have two children, Vamika and Akaay.
Rahul also mentioned in the 2018 interview about occasionally exchanging messages.
"It was nice of Anushka to do it as I didn't know how she could understand what I was going through. We still stay in touch and exchange a few messages, although Anushka's are about my dog mostly," said Rahul.
Cut to the present, and Rahul is part of the India A side facing India B in the Duleep Trophy opener that started in Bengaluru earlier today (September 5).