K. L. Rahul attributes his success to support from people of Kudla

Team Udayavani, Nov 15, 2024, 9:11 AM IST

Mangaluru: Cricketer K.L. Rahul, a cherished name in Indian cricket, has once again expressed his gratitude for the love and support he has received from the people of Mangaluru. In a recent interview with a private channel, he attributed his achievements to the encouragement from his hometown, stating in Tulu, “Kudla da janaklena preethi, vishvasa ee yenna sadhaneg kaarana” (“The love and trust of Kudla’s people have been the reason behind my success.”)

Reflecting on his journey, Rahul recalled his early days playing cricket at the grounds of the National Institute of Technology, Karnataka (NITK), where he nurtured his dream of representing India. “While playing cricket at NITK, I aspired to play for India, but back then, I lacked the confidence that it would actually happen,” he said, reminiscing about the support he received from his community.

Born and raised in Mangaluru, Rahul grew up playing cricket at Nehru Maidan. His parents, Professor Lokesh, a faculty member at NITK, and Rajeswari, a professor at Mangalore University College, instilled in him a deep connection to his roots.

Rahul has frequently expressed his fondness for Mangaluru in previous interviews, describing the city’s special place in his heart.

Having recently left the Lucknow Super Giants, cricket fans are now eager to see which team Rahul will join for the 2025 IPL season, with discussions of his potential move to Royal Challengers Bengaluru circulating widely. In the meantime, Rahul is gearing up to represent India in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Test series against Australia, starting November 22.