Australian cricket legend Adam Gilchrist hailed KL Rahul’s immense versatility and value to Indian cricket, emphasizing his ability to adapt across all formats and roles after his significant contribution to the tourists’ massive win over the hosts in the first Test in Perth.
Despite not being in the original plans for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, the Karnataka batter was taken to Australia, and he immediately proved his worth by playing an impressive knock of 77 runs off 176 balls in the first at the Optus Stadium in Perth.
Adam Gilchrist hails KL Rahul’s versatility and composure in the Perth Test
Rahul also added over 200 runs with Yashasvi Jaiswal (161) for the opening stand to not only help the Indian cricket team record a dominating win of 295 runs in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 opener against Australia but also silence his critics in style.
Adam Gilchrist said on Cricbuzz: “KL Rahul has the talent and the skill and the brilliance in all formats. He has consistently performed in T20s, white-ball cricket, and then into the Test arena, but maybe not with the consistency that the talent and the potential that we all see in him. That might be the criticism of him, but he’s a versatile cricketer. He wasn’t even in the original touring party.”
Ahead of the Day-Night Test in Adelaide, Adam Gilchrist has highlighted the fact that KL Rahul has batted at various positions, provided crucial partnerships, and taken on leadership-like responsibilities for Team India in his career so far, and it makes him a special player.
It’s a game of partnerships with the younger batting partners: Adam Gilchrist
The legendary Australian wicketkeeper also mentioned that the right-handed batter’s innings in Perth demonstrated his composure and substance, which significantly contributed to India’s dominance against Australia in the ongoing five-match Test series opener in Perth.
Gilchrist further explained, “He’s batted between one and six in that batting lineup. In other formats, he’ll get called on to wicket-keep. So, what I love is his ability to be on call, to commit to whatever the role is for his country. And part of the role in Perth was not just to get 60-odd and absorb deliveries but was to help coach and encourage through in partnership. It’s a game of partnerships with the younger batting partners. So, it was massively vital.”
Read Also: Sam Konstas locked in as Marnus Labuschagne’s replacement for IND vs AUS Tests
While Yashasvi Jaiswal garners headlines for his maiden Test ton on Australian soil, Gilchrist believes that Rahul’s efforts deserve greater recognition for stabilizing India’s position and showcasing his all-round capabilities as a team player, and that impressed him most.
KL Rahul deserves more recognition than Yashasvi Jaiswal: Gilchrist
The cricket pundits also pointed out Rahul’s significant contribution to India’s victory in the Perth Test, where his crucial innings not only helped India gain dominance but also played a key role in mentoring young Yashasvi against Australia.
Gilchrist signed off by saying, “All the headlines, I guess, at the moment will be about Yashasvi Jaiswal, and who knows what unfolds. But I think a lot of the focus, a lot of the glare, should be on KL Rahul because that’s an innings of great substance and just has India in such a dominant position against Australia.”