Indian cricket team batter, KL Rahul is likely to feature in the opening Test match versus Australia to be held at the Optus Stadium in Perth, starting November 22. KL Rahul could either open the innings or bat at number three with both Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill ruled out. It’s a crucial phase for KL Rahul who would be keen to showcase his credentials.
The coaching staff has backed KL Rahul to do the job at the top of the order given his massive experience of opening in Australia in the past. KL Rahul was also added to the India A squad for the second unofficial Test against Australia A where he was promoted to open the innings. KL Rahul was injured in the intra-squad match and was away from practice for two days before returning to net sessions in Perth.
KL Rahul’s current form and performances Down Under
On November 17, KL Rahul resumed training after injuring his elbow. The injury happened during a match simulation when he failed to connect his bat with a rising delivery from Prasidh Krishna. However, despite the setback, Rahul was spotted practicing in the nets. Rahul scored 0 and 12 versus New Zealand (1st Test) before being dropped. Versus Australia A, he managed 4 and 10.
Rahul has had mixed results in SENA nations (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia). As per ESPNCricinfo, the versatile batter has amassed 1,170 runs from 21 matches (40 innings) at an average of 29.25.However, he has hit 5 tons and two fifties. His strike rate reads 47.91.Versus pacers in SENA, KL Rahul owns 991 runs, being dismissed 37 times from 40 innings.
On Australian soil, KL Rahul has racked up 187 runs from five matches (9 innings) at just 20.77. He has managed to hit one hundred (110). His strike rate is 44.84 Down Under. He has faced 417 deliveries. In his career, KL Rahul has piled up 2,981 runs at an average of 33.87 from 53 matches (91 innings).
In his career, KL Rahul has piled up 2,981 runs at an average of 33.87 from 53 matches (91 innings).In addition to 8 hundreds, he has clobbered 15 fifties. His strike rate is 53.07. Meanwhile, he owns 618 runs versus Australia from 11 matches (19 innings) at 34.33.In addition to a ton, he has 6 fifties under his belt.
The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy will mark KL Rahul’s third tour of Australia. He was part of India’s 2014 tour under Mahendra Singh Dhoni and the 2018 tour under Virat Kohli’s captaincy. Despite his talent, Rahul has struggled in Australian conditions, managing just one century, which came in Sydney during the 2014 series.
In total, Rahul has played five Tests in Australia and has scored just 187 runs at an average of 20.77. His form has been under scrutiny, especially after a disappointing home series against New Zealand, where he managed scores of 0 and 12. Despite playing one Test at his home ground in Bengaluru, he was dropped for the remaining two matches due to his poor performance with the bat.
Rahul’s struggles continued in the Unofficial Test against Australia A ahead of the five-match series, where he managed just 4 and 10 in the two innings at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden has offered valuable advice to the Karnataka batter as he prepares for the crucial series.
Matthew Hayden highlights KL Rahul’s challenge ahead of BGT 2024-25
Former Australian batter Matthew Hayden believes KL Rahul’s struggles in Tests stem from the wicketkeeper-batter having too many options and not knowing his own game. Hayden suggested KL Rahul and all the other batters from both sides must bide time and bat for long periods to succeed in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy down under.
India and Australia will battle each other over five Tests, starting in Perth on November 22.
Coming to KL Rahul, his recent Test form has been sub-par with an average of 33.42 in five games this year. The 32-year-old was dismissed cheaply in both innings of the India A-Australia A three-day match in the build-up to the Australia Tests.
In an interaction with Channel 7, Hayden advised KL Rahul to recognize his batting style for the long format and take his time to build an innings.
“KL Rahul is undoubtedly a beautiful stroke player. Expecting to suddenly adopt a completely different style, like turning into a Usman Khawaja, would be like asking Travis Head to play like someone he’s not. Every batter has a unique approach to the game. But first, you need to know your game. That might be KL Rahul’s challenge – having so many options as a stroke player can sometimes work against him. He needs to focus on the basic principle of batting for windows of time,” said Hayden via TOI.
He added:
“Look, my advice, not just to KL Rahul but to all batters in this series, is that no one needs to rush in a Test match. Batting conditions are often favorable through to day three, but we rarely see Test matches in this country extending to the fifth day – unless weather becomes a factor. I think the key is to bat time.”
KL Rahul has historically struggled with the bat in Tests down under, averaging a dismal 20.77 in nine innings.
Matthew Hayden feels KL Rahul will be best suited in middle order in Australian conditions
Matthew Hayden backed KL Rahul to express himself better with the bat in the middle order, thanks to favorable conditions and an older ball.
The stylish right-hander has batted at No.6 for India in five of his last six Tests. Yet, with the absence of skipper Rohit Sharma for the opening Test and the injury to Shubman Gill, Rahul might find himself back in the top three.
“If Rahul is slated to bat in the middle order, he might find conditions more favorable with the new ball being slightly older. This could allow him to express himself better than when facing the new ball as an opener,” said Hayden.
Despite being a veteran of 53 Tests, Rahul has struggled for consistency with a career average of under 34. Yet, he has showcased his red-ball prowess occasionally with five combined centuries in challenging conditions like South Africa, England, and Australia.