If life gives you an opportunity grab it like KL Rahul. The Karnataka batsman has not been in the best form when it comes to Test cricket. Before the 2021 series, he last played a test match in 2019. In the last series against England, he managed to score 149 and fought hard with Rishabh Pant to save the Test match. Although he was unable to win it for his team KL Rahul looked very fluent.
He opened the batting in the West Indies series but he was replaced by fellow Karnataka batsman Mayank Agarwal. KL Rahul was never able to consolidate his position in the Test side.
Well played, KL Rahul – playing a Test after 2 long years, was slotted in middle order then with 2 openers getting injured and made his opener again – scored 84 runs from 214 balls including 8 fours. Top come back, KL. #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/hWDJtJPmUw
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 6, 2021
KL Rahul in 2018-19
- Matches – 15
- Innings – 27
- Runs – 578
- Average – 22
- 100s – 1
- 50s -1
He Started From Where He Left Off
Almost two years after he last played a Test match, KL Rahul got an opportunity to open the innings again in England. KL Rahul got the opportunity as Shubhman Gill and Mayank Agarwal suffered injuries while Prithvi Shaw, who was added to the Test squad after Team India’s tour to Sri Lanka, has been ruled out of the first two Tests as he will have to go through hotel quarantine. Other than KL Rahul there was no one in the Team who has the experience of opening the batting in Test cricket.
12th Test FIFTY for KL Rahul 🔥
This is a determined comeback from the swashbuckling batsman🏏Tune into Sony Six (ENG), Sony Ten 3 (HIN), Sony Ten 4 (TAM, TEL) & SonyLIV (https://t.co/AwcwLCPFGm ) now! 📺#ENGvINDOnlyOnSonyTen #BackOurBoys #KLRahul pic.twitter.com/6wixJXHjYt
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) August 5, 2021
He has grabbed this opportunity with both hands. Its like he never left England. India posted 278 in reply to England’s 183. The opener top-scored with 84 runs. KL Rahul scored a century for the Indians in the three-day warm-up game against County Select XI. The batting line-up failed but Rahul along with Ravindra Jadeja was the shining light in the first innings.
This commendable performance has garnered lots of praise from people around the world. Former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan was heard drawing comparisons with Rahul Dravid. He said:
“Absolutely. Add another point – ‘that’ Rahul also held the wicketkeeping gloves for the team and Rahul did the same as well. It could either be the Bangalore connection or the connection of their names but he’s very talented too. Rahul Dravid has done so much for India that this show won’t suffice to talk about it. But yes, seeing such a role model who has done so much for the team compared to him and seeing that he’s being looked at with the same eyes, KL Rahul would be very happy,” Zaheer asserted.
India are currently in a very commanding position as they lead this match by 70 runs. The tail-enders really helped India pull the lead towards the end of the innings. The first session tomorrow will be an interesting one as the Indian bowlers will come hard at the English batsman. As for England their focus should be batting out the first session and settling in.
