Seam movement in South Africa was unexpected: KL Rahul

Bengaluru, February 10: India opener KL Rahul said on Saturday (February 10) though he was prepared for pace and bounce on South African pitches, the seam movement undone him.

"South Africa was a whole new challenge," Rahul said on the sidelines of the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Alur where Karnataka's game against Haryana was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

"We expected pace and bounce. I didn't think there would be so much seam movement. That was new. Seam movement with pace and bounce. It's a deadly combination and you don't want to be an opener when all these things are happening," Rahul said.

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Rahul had a miserable Test series, scoring 30 runs from four innings at a paltry 7.50.

Rahul said it was a good learning experience for him. "But it was a good learning for me. I knew what I need to tweak in my game and where I stand when it comes to my skill. (Getting good starts but getting out to loose shots is a) part of the game and you learn as you play. Ups and downs are part of the career," he said.

However, Rahul was not overtly concerned about the failures.

"This is not exactly a down. I am playing well bt not able to convert. I am not able to spend more time in the middle. I will find the answer soon and maybe it takes just one good innings to get the conversion rate better. It doesn't have to be a 150, but even a 50 can help me," said Rahul.

Not part of the ODI squad at the moment, Rahul will return to national duty during the T20I series, beginning on February 18.

Rahul said he used the Vijay Hazare Trophy as a preparation for the T20I series.

"Playing just two formats becomes a little easier. I came here to play the one-day format and get some runs. I understand how I need to alter my game, go about the innings. But I am still young and I am ready to learn," he said.

"I have always been somebody who looks at the positive side. When you are playing sport you know you will have more bad days than good days. You need to take things by your stride and try to learn something new and improve every day.

"Any format you play is challenging. I did not do too much in the Test series, so I am looking forward to going there and getting some runs," he said.