Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra lauded KL Rahul’s turnaround in Test cricket, saying that this can be called his 2.0 version. KL Rahul has looked a class apart in the ongoing Test series against South Africa.
The right-hander is currently the leading run-scorer in the series with 204 runs in four innings at a healthy average of 51.00 and also has a century and a half-century to his name.
The opening batter has looked very compact and has shown immense discipline to the deliveries outside off-stump, playing close to his body, which has been the main highlight of his batting.
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Rahul, ever since he made his return to the Indian Test side has looked very settled at the top and also set the stage on fire in England, where he amassed 315 runs in eight innings, including a century at Lord's and a half-century.
Speaking on the Star Sports show Follow the Blues, Aakash Chopra said that this is the 2.0 version of KL Rahul and in his opinion, the opening batter has a different mindset as he takes his time.
He while explaining the reason behind KL Rahul’s turnaround in Test cricket highlighted that he has developed an excellent idea about where his off-stump is and said that the opener is happy to bide his time.
"We can, of course, call this KL Rahul 2.0. The difference, in my opinion, is the mindset or the comfort that this is how I am going to play. It takes time because the players of this era, play all three formats, it is very difficult to understand the right template for every format.
"There is a temptation to play the big shots because you can play those. But the KL Rahul we were seeing at this point, has such a good idea about his off-stump, where to play the deliveries, and how many deliveries to leave. He is happy to bide his time," Aakash Chopra said.
Chopra lauded Rahul, saying it's "remarkable" how he as a Test opener defends with conviction the same deliveries that he hits boundaries off in T20 cricket.
“That's remarkable for someone who, when he plays T20 cricket, has the ability to hit fours and sixes off every delivery. But he is defending or leaving the same deliveries and he is looking very compact,” he said.
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Aakash Chopra further said that KL Rahul has understood his game properly much like senior Indian opener Rohit Sharma did when India toured England last year.
"The biggest change, in my opinion, he has done is to be comfortable in his own skin. Once you understand your game properly, you are not in a hurry because you are very confident. We saw the same thing with Rohit Sharma if you see his England tour," he concluded.
KL Rahul will be next seen in action when India will take on the Proteas in the third Test in Cape Town on 11th January. The Virat Kohli-led side would be hoping their opening batter to continue his form and help his side clinch their first-ever Test series win in South Africa.
(Star Sports inputs)
