KL Rahul was not India’s first-choice opener before the start of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Since Rohit Sharma wasn’t available for the series opener in Perth, Rahul was asked to open the innings and he made the most of it.
Rahul negotiated the new ball brilliantly and returned with scores of 26 and 77 to set-up India’s thumping 295-run victory.
With his impressive exploits, Rahul forced the team management to retain him at the top of the order even as Rohit returned for the second Test. The Indian captain moved down to No. 6 in the batting order.
While Rahul scored 37 and 7 across the two innings of pink-ball Test in Adelaide, he shined once again as an opener at the Gabba, producing a gritty 84 off 139 balls in India’s first innings.
Rahul’s half-century in the third Test has impressed the legendary Sunil Gavaskar so much that he wants the Karnataka man to open for the remainder of the five-match series.
"Yes, that debate is settled. With the way he's batted throughout these 3 test matches, Rahul has to open. Rohit Sharma has not been in good form over the last 4 or 5 matches, not just these 2 matches yet, but over the last 4 or 5 matches, so it makes sense to go in with a batter who's in very good form," Gavaskar told India Today.
KL Rahul ended up being the top scorer as the visitors reached 252/9 at stumps on Day 4 and managed to avoid follow-on in the rain-hit Gabba Test.
Considering his form and water-tight technique, Gavaskar also urged Rahul to face the first ball of the Indian innings so that Yashasvi Jaiswal gets some time to himself.
Notably, Jaiswal has been dismissed by Mitchell Starc on the first and second ball of the Indian innings in the ongoing series.
"The only thing is, unless it's a superstitious thing, I would like, maybe Rahul to take the first ball so that he just gives young Jaiswal a little time to settle at the other end, because Jaiswal seems to be in a bit of a rush. When he comes there, he's pushing hard at the ball, and you know he got away with the streaky boundary of to get forward, and next body was out, so maybe just get him some time to settle at the non-striker end," Gavaskar said.
