KL Rahul‘s struggles continued with another disappointing dismissal, as he failed to demonstrate his skills to the Indian selectors in the second unofficial Test against Australia A on Friday. As the only player in the India A lineup with experience at the MCG, Rahul was expected to provide leadership and guide the team to improvement following their disappointing loss in the first match.
For Rahul, this match was an important opportunity to make his case for a spot in India’s Test squad ahead of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy and to dispel any doubts about his batting ability. However, the exact opposite unfolded, as Rahul was dismissed cheaply in both innings of the match.
The right-handed wicketkeeper-batter managed just four runs from four balls in the first innings before being caught behind by Australia A’s wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson off Scott Boland’s bowling.
Things took a turn for the worse when, in the second innings, Rahul attempted a strange defensive shot that turned into a leave against spinner Corey Rocchiccioli. The ball hit the stumps, leaving Rahul bewildered and bowled out.
You can watch the video here:
"Don't know what he was thinking!"
Oops… that's an astonishing leave by KL Rahul 😱 #AUSAvINDA pic.twitter.com/e4uDPH1dzz
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 8, 2024
Rahul and Jurel were sent for the second ‘A’ Test before joining the senior team in Perth
After being dropped midway through the home Tests against New Zealand, the Indian selectors, in consultation with the team management, decided to send Rahul and reserve keeper Dhruv Jurel for the second ‘A’ Test before they join the senior squad in Perth.
However, Rahul’s recent performance has put him under pressure, leaving the selectors with doubts about including him in the squad. On the other hand, Dhruv Jurel impressed with a stellar performance in the first innings and will look to build on it in the second half of the match.
Jurel scored nearly half of India A’s modest first-innings total of 161 in 57.1 overs, making 80 runs off 186 balls, with the only other batter to pass 20 being Devdutt Padikkal (26). What stood out was Jurel’s composure and his ability to play late, using soft hands.
While Rishabh Pant remains the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter, Jurel’s ability to leave deliveries well on length may give him an edge over Sarfaraz Khan for the middle-order batter spot.
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