KL Rahul was one of the standout performers in India’s four-wicket victory over Australia in the Champions Trophy semifinal. Batting at No. 5, Rahul’s unbeaten 42 off 34 balls helped India clinch a close chase at the Dubai International Stadium. He even hit the winning runs to seal the match. In an impromptu interview with Star Sports after the match, KL Rahul shared his thoughts on his batting position and the criticism he has faced on social media. Rahul said: "Since 2020, I’ve been batting at No. 5. People forget that this is where I’ve been playing. Every time I perform in a series, and there’s a break from ODI cricket, when the next series comes around, there’s a question mark about ‘where will he play in the XI?’ Sometimes, I sit in the dressing room and think, ‘What more can I do?’ Everywhere I’ve been asked to play, I’ve played, and I feel like I’ve performed well, as per what Rohit has told me" Also read: Shubman Gill Signs Deal with MRF The wicketkeeper-batter has been a consistent middle-order option for India for years, including a decent run in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Rahul scored 452 runs in the tournament and was the highest scorer in the final. "I was opening in Test matches in Australia, and you know how tough it is to face those deliveries. Coming from there to bat in the middle order here is a bit different, but I don’t complain. This is how I’ve played my white-ball cricket for the last 4-5 years. I am quite used to moving up and down the order. I am just happy to play wherever I am asked, and it has helped me understand my game a lot better. Over the last year, it has also helped me improve my boundary-hitting," he added. Rohit has supported me: KL Rahul Rahul also acknowledged Rohit Sharma’s support, highlighting how invaluable the captain’s trust had been to his performance. "Rohit has supported me, backed me, and that trust from the captain is invaluable. I just love batting. There’s fun in batting for 30 balls as well. There’s pressure in that too—one wrong shot, and you could let the team down. You don’t want that all the time, but there is excitement in it," he said. KL Rahul has scored 106 runs in his three innings so far in the Champions Trophy. His unbeaten 42 against Australia is his highest score of the tournament. Indian fans will be hoping the wicketkeeper-batter continues his good form in the final as well. India will face the winners of New Zealand and South Africa in the final of the Champions Trophy. South Africa, who finished at the top of the other group, is also unbeaten in the tournament. New Zealand, on the other hand, lost their last league match against India and finished second in the group.