KL Rahul showcased some form with the bat as he helped India gain an advantage in the second innings of the first Test of BGT 2024 in Perth. His 77-run knock and 201-run partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal for the opening wicket were the platform on which India managed to win the match by 295 runs.
Rahul had opened the innings with Jaiswal because captain Rohit Sharma was on paternity leave and had missed the Perth Test.
But with Rohit Sharma back to lead the Indian team, everyone is wondering whether Rahul will continue to open with Yashasvi Jaiswal or will Rohit return as an opener and be pushed down to the middle order.
At his press conference in Adelaide ahead of the pink-ball Test beginning December 6, Rahul was asked the same question, but the 32-year-old batter was well aware of the query and used humor to answer the question.
"I've been told but I've also been told to not share it today. So you'll have to wait for day one or maybe when the captain comes here tomorrow (for the pre-match press conference),” KL Rahul stated.
During the day-night practice match against the Australian Prime Minister's XI in Canberra, Rahul and Jaiswal were not disturbed, as the duo put on another solid opening stand of 75 runs.
Rohit, who batted at No. 4 in the game, managed only 3 runs, continuing his poor form after scoring only 91 runs in the six innings of the three Tests against New Zealand at home shortly before the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
Rahul said he keeps it "simple" and gives the bowlers and the new ball "respect" at the start of the innings.
"I try to keep it really simple. The new ball does a lot. So you need to respect the first 20-25 overs and try to soak in the pressure, try and get used to the pace or whatever the wicket is doing...If you get through that period, then, like I said, batting seems pretty normal wherever you are in the world. So it's about managing those first 20-25 overs," he said.
Rahul's 103 runs in his two innings at Perth came off 250 balls, which reminded me of the job Cheteshwar Pujara did during India's back-to-back Test triumphs in Australia on the last two tours.
"I've played in different conditions; and when you do well in different conditions -- pace-friendly conditions or away from home, you do get a little bit of confidence and you do understand how you need to do it, and you repeat those processes again and again.
Those are the things, those are the key points that you need to really work on -- playing the ball late, leaving a lot of balls, and waiting for the bowlers to come to you,” Rahul signed off.
(PTI inputs)
