Former India player turned famous commentator VVS Laxman has stated that KL Rahul has returned to the longer format with a bang and he wants Rahul to continue his sublime form in the upcoming series against South Africa also.
However, India will play a three-match Test series and the newly appointed ODI captain and the deputy of Virat Kohli in the Tests, Rohit Sharma, has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury.
While talking about the upcoming series against South Africa on the Star Sports show Game Plan, VVS Laxman lauded KL Rahul’s return in the squad. He said:
“What a fantastic comeback he [Rahul] has made into this Indian Test team. He got an opportunity because Mayank Agarwal and Shubman Gill were injured but he seized the opportunity. We know that he is an aggressive player, he is a stroke player but he also knows that if you want to succeed in South Africa, you should know where your off-stump is. We saw in the series against England, he was leaving a lot of deliveries.”
KL Rahul was India’s second-highest run-scorer in the Test series against England, where he had smashed 315 runs at a modest average of 39.37.
“It is difficult to open in South Africa” – Aakash Chopra
Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra also opined on that and said that he expects KL Rahul to do well in this format too. He said:
“Last time around his confidence was really low when he had gone to South Africa. He was fidgety, indecisive, feet were not going anywhere, he was just chasing the ball or rather trying to compensate for the lack of feet movement with his hands. It is difficult to open in South Africa.
I think this time it will be different after that successful tour of England and a lot of runs in white-ball cricket. One thing that Rahul must keep in mind, of course know where your off-stump is – that’s the basic, but also just the decisive feet movement, either go front or use the depth of the crease and go back and be decisive in your decision making,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
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