IND v AFG 2018: KL Rahul ready for wicketkeeping role in Saha'a absence

KL Rahul wants to be ready for the challenge against Rashid Khan.

KL Rahul has previously done wicketkeeping for India. (AFP)

With India's first choice wicketkeeper for Test matches, Wriddhiman Saha being injured ahead of India's historic Test match against Afghanistan reports are coming in that Dinesh Karthik is likely to replace him for the occasion. Young Indian opening batsman, KL Rahul has expressed his willingness to step in and do the glovework, if the team management wants him to.

Saha's participation in the Test remains unsure because of the thumb injury he suffered in the Indian Premier League (IPL) Qualifier 2 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on May 25 and Dinesh Karthik being a good quality replacement, Rahul may find it extremely tough to do so but he wants to be ready and do anything for the team when required.

KL Rahul is in some terrific form with the bat, having scored 659 runs at an average of 54.91, scoring six fifties in 14 innings for the Kings XI Punjab in the recently concluded Indian Premier League season but what also stood out is the safe glovework he did for the Ravichandran Ashwin led side.

Tests are a few notches above T20, but KL Rahul was recently quoted saying, "I am always open to the challenge of dual responsibility. I have been training hard and will take up the role if the team demands the same,"

KL Rahul has previously done wicketkeeping for India in Test matches when during the 2015 Test series in Sri Lanka he stepped in to do the glovework in one of the matches. He recalled it and further said, "This wasn't the first time that I took on a dual responsibility. I knew it will be hard on the body, as I don't keep regularly through the year but that's what you do seeing the demand of the team."

"I took it up as a challenge and worked on keeping. It's a team sport and you have to be ready to take up the role that the team wants,"

KL Rahul understands his position in Indian Cricket currently and his responsibility with the bat. He'll be up against four quality spinners led by the magician Rashid Khan and wants to be fully prepared, technically as well as mentally for it.

"Apart from IPL sensations Rashid and young Mujeeb ur Rahman, the other two spinners are chinaman Zahir Khan and left-arm orthodox Amir Hamza Hotak are the ones to watch out for."

"Rashid and Mujeeb have made the entire world sit up and take notice of their talent in the shortest format, but I feel the duo is set to face a different battle in the test format. The strategy will be to work on our strengths as a team and give our best,"

(Inputs from Cricket Next)

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 02 Jun, 2018

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