The proficient & versatile batter has some elegant a whole lot to his identify however has not been as prolific as would have been anticipated, regardless of being backed by successive captain-coach mixtures. If he regains his confidence, Rahul could possibly be an asset Down Underneath…
Who’s the one Indian opener to attain Take a look at a whole lot in England, South Africa, and Australia? KL Rahul.
Who’s the one visiting batter to attain two Take a look at a whole lot at Supersport Park, Centurion, typically thought-about a graveyard for non-South African batters? KL Rahul.
Who’s the one Indian batter to attain seven successive Take a look at 50s? KL Rahul.
Who’s the one Indian batter who prompted MS Dhoni – a person not recognized to be philanthropic whereas praising youthful gamers – to say earlier than an ODI in Ranchi, “I believe India have discovered an all-format opener”? KL Rahul.
And but, after we see the profession stats of a person who’s one amongst solely 22 specialist batters to have performed 50 or extra Checks for India, it seems like Rahul’s potential has had a rocky marriage with efficiency. A sub35 common for somebody who has performed 51 Checks makes Rahul followers – and there are lots of – grumble in disbelief.
“Confused strategy”, “over-thinking”, “scoreboard inertia”, “batting-order modifications”, “checked out solely as damage back-up”, “ruthless and constant trolling” – these have been just a few phrases used to justify the modest figures. On the lookout for phrases resembling “lack of alternative” and “misfortune”? Hold wanting.
Quite the opposite, Rahul has caught fairly a couple of fortunate breaks. Just like the one in England in 2021, when he discovered himself opening the innings after Shubman Gill and Mayank Agarwal, each designated companions for Rohit on the prime of the order, picked up accidents. Rahul was slotted in as opener. A gritty match-winning hundred adopted at Lord’s.
The strong 76 in Nottingham within the earlier Take a look at was a promising appetizer.
Fortune smiled on him within the Asia Cup 2023 too in Sri Lanka, when simply earlier than the toss in opposition to Pakistan, Shreyas Iyer picked up a again damage and Rahul received in as a ‘keeper batter and smashed an excellent hundred. He loved a productive ODI World Cup in that function, preserving Ishan Kishan out.
Being articulate and having led astutely in franchise cricket, Rahul was checked out as a worthy deputy to each Kohli and Rohit. Their injury-led absences noticed him develop into India’s thirty fourth Take a look at captain in Johannesburg in Jan 2022 and later within the yr in Bangladesh for 2 Checks.
Nevertheless, whereas the ‘C’ subsequent to his identify elevated his profile, Rahul’s kind nosedived. He averaged solely 17.12 in 4 Checks in 2022. He misplaced his place within the T20 facet after a under par T20 World Cup Down Underneath, during which it appeared he began to bat conservatively.
But, he has repeatedly discovered backing each within the Kohli-Shastri regime and the Dravid-Rohit regime. He discovered assist from Rohit once more in Chennai, the place he was most well-liked over Sarfaraz Khan, who had impressed within the three outings in opposition to England earlier within the yr and whose sport in opposition to spin is flawless.
“The form of message that has been given to him from our facet was quite simple: we needed him to play all video games. We wish him to carry the most effective out of him. And it’s our responsibility as effectively to carry the most effective out of him,” Rohit confused.
As captain, Rohit has earned the repute of giving gamers the liberty, consolation and safety. The vote of confidence for Rahul illustrated that. Rohit additionally acknowledged Rahul’s ton within the Centurion Take a look at in tough circumstances batting at No. 6, and likewise the 86 batting at No. 4 in Hyderabad in opposition to England earlier than getting injured.
“He is received the sport to play spin and seam. I do not see any cause why he cannot flourish in Take a look at cricket. Clearly, the alternatives are there now. It is for him to grasp how he needs to take his profession ahead,” Rohit said.
The workforce think-tank is aware of {that a} assured Rahul in Australia shall be an asset as a backup ‘keeper to Rishabh Pant, permitting the selectors to select one other bowler or batter within the travelling squad. He was secure as a church with the ‘preserving gloves on the pace-friendly surfaces in South Africa.
Versatility has been Rahul’s calling card to remain related. An opener, he effortlessly embraced the function of keeper and middle-order enforcer-cum innings builder in ODIs and performed notable knocks just like the 97 not out vs Australia in Chennai within the ODI World Cup opener to rescue India from 2-3, chasing 200.
However his knock of 66 off 107 balls within the last in opposition to the identical opponents in Ahmedabad gave sufficient ammunition to the troll military to assault him once more.
Having the consolation of Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin to bat behind him – and being sandwiched between them and the flamboyant Rishabh Pant at No. 5 – might give Rahul sufficient confidence to make a reputation for himself at No. 6.
For inspiration, he can take a look at how VVS Laxman prospered at that quantity. An alternative choice: Watch his personal knock on Boxing Day in 2023 in Centurion.
