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 overall numbers in Tests and his current form
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.
Keeping his current form in mind, many cricketing experts feels under confident that KL Rahul won’t be India’s best opening option in Australia as an opener’s job is to set the tempo of the innings. However , Michael Hussey has urged KL to trust his game and ignore the outside noise to return to form in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024.
Michael Hussey urges KL Rahul to ignore outside noise to return to form ahead of BGT 2024-25
Former Australian batter Michael Hussey advised struggling Indian batter KL Rahul to trust his game and turn off the external noise ahead of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy down under. The 32-year-old has been woefully short of runs in the Test arena this year, averaging under 34 in five outings.
KL Rahul has scored only the lone half-century in his last six Test innings even while playing at home. Despite being a veteran of 53 Tests, the stylish right-hander averages a sub-par 33.87 in his decade-long career.
Speaking to the TOI, Hussey praised KL Rahul as a fantastic player and advised him to trust his game.
“He’s another fantastic player. So I guess, just to trust his game and to be confident with whatever he does, you know that’s the most important thing. We know how good he is. And so I guess there’s a lot of external people who put these doubts in your mind,” he said.
Hussey added:
“I just hope that he just doesn’t worry about all the external stuff and just concentrates on his game, his preparation, and just tries to play his best possible cricket, because when he’s playing at his best, he’s one of the best players in the world. I’m sure if he can start well in the series, get a good score under his belt early, then that’ll help his confidence the rest of the series,”
KL Rahul has struggled massively in Tests down under, averaging under 21 in five matches with a lone century and no half-centuries. The blockbuster India-Australia five-Test series will begin with the opening encounter at Perth on November 22.
Despite his poor form and lack of confidence, KL Rahul seems to be the front-runner to open in Perth. He was also seen opening in the match simulation practice ahead of the first Test. It remains to be seen who fills in injured Shubman Gill at number three, with Dhruv Jurel, Abhimanyu Easwaran, and Devdutt Padikkal in the reckoning.