KL Rahul, selected to bolster India A ahead of the unofficial Test series against Australia A, failed to make an impact in his first innings. Opening for India A, Rahul was dismissed after just four balls, scoring only 4 runs before being bowled out by Australian pacer Scott Boland.
Rahul’s early exit raised concerns about his form, especially with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia fast approaching. Alongside Rahul, Abhimanyu Easwaran, also in India’s Test squad, was dismissed for a duck, further complicating India’s top-order concerns.
India A’s Batting Collapse Raises Concerns
The batting performance of India A on Day 1 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) was disappointing. India A stumbled to 65/5 by lunch, with Michael Neser causing most of the damage. Neser dismissed Easwaran, Sai Sudharsan, and Ruturaj Gaikwad early in the game, leaving India A at 11/4 at one point.
Fans took to social media to express their frustration, noting Rahul’s inconsistency and frequent role changes within the Indian team. This outing added to Rahul’s recent struggles, fueling debates about his readiness to face Australia in the upcoming series.
Debate on Rahul’s Selection and Role for Border-Gavaskar Trophy
The decision to include Rahul in India A’s lineup was intended to give him match practice before the Australia series, especially with regular opener Rohit Sharma possibly missing the first Test. Rahul, who has experienced multiple role shifts between middle-order and opening positions, has yet to secure his place in the Test team. Although his international experience includes centuries in challenging conditions like England and Australia, recent performances have cast doubt on his reliability.
Easwaran, known for his strong domestic record, is another option India could consider to partner with Yashasvi Jaiswal if Sharma is unavailable. The team management hopes that additional game time in these practice matches will clarify the opening lineup for the high-stakes Perth Test starting November 22.
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