The 32-year-old star India National Cricket Team batsman KL Rahul has stated that the young batting sensation Yashasvi Jaiswal is a replica of him from 10 years ago.
KL Rahul made his Test debut for the India National Cricket Team in the 2014 Boxing Day Test at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. He said that he saw a ‘little bit’ of himself in Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is on his first tour to Australia with the Test team.
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KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal shined as an opening pair
Rahul, who has been regularly moved up and down in the batting order, was asked to open the innings for the team in the Test series opener against Australia National Cricket Team in Perth.
This was due to the absence of Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who had made the decision to skip the match to stay with his wife after the birth of their second child – Ahaan.
Rahul partnered Jaiswal at the top and the duo did an absolutely amazing job together. In the first innings, the left-handed batter was dismissed for a duck, but Rahul faced 74 balls and scored a good 26 runs before being given out controversially.
Meanwhile, in the second innings, Jaiswal and Rahul batted brilliantly and made the strong Australian bowling line-up look clueless. They ensured that a huge opening stand was built as they added 201 runs off 383 balls.
Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed a terrific ton and finished his innings with 161 runs off 297 balls, with 15 fours and 3 sixes, while Rahul amassed 77 runs off 176 balls, with 5 fours. Their partnership played a key role in India’s dominant 295-run win.
Also, Rohit Sharma sacrificed his opening spot in the pink-ball tour game against Australia’s Prime Minister’s XI, and Jaiswal (45) along with Rahul (27) opened for India and added 75 runs together.
I saw a little bit of myself when I was here 10 years ago, opening the batting – KL Rahul on Yashasvi Jaiswal
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Rahul stated that he passed on his knowledge to Jaiswal while batting with him for the first time and tried to keep him calm. He said:
“It’s the first time I’m batting with him, I don’t think we have batted together before this. In the first innings, we did not get enough time together, but we did have a few chats before in training sessions, and I try to share whatever little I’ve learned from playing here in Australia.
“Just tried to speak with him, calm him down. I saw a little bit of myself when I was here 10 years ago, opening the batting for the first time.”
This will be my first pink ball Test match – KL Rahul
KL Rahul further said that he has prepared himself well for his first pink-ball Test match in Australia, which will be played in Adelaide. He stated:
“This will be my first pink ball Test match. I don’t have the game experience like some other players have in the team. It is just about speaking to the guys and get to know what were the things that they found hard and how did they manage to adjust and make changes. In practice, I felt that it was a little different in terms of how you watch this ball.”