India captain Rohit Sharma has confirmed that KL Rahul will be opening the batting for India during the second Test between Australia and India in Adelaide. Rohit also confirmed that he will bat in the middle order in this match.
Rahul opened the batting alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal during the first Test in Perth. He had an excellent match with the bat and scored crucial runs in both innings. Looking at his form, the team management decided to continue him at the top at the expense of their regular opener.
Also read: Travis Head brutally hammers Sunil Gavaskar for inciting division in Australian Team
Rohit Sharma confirms KL Rahul as opener for Adelaide Test
During a press conference on the eve of the second Test in Adelaide, Rohit Sharma confirmed that KL Rahul will play as an opener. Rohit also confirmed that he will bat in the middle order, although, he didn’t confirm his exact batting position.
The Indian captain reasoned KL Rahul’s position at the top by saying that the opening pair of Rahul and Jaiswal won them a Test match in Perth. As a result, there is no need to change the opening combination.
“KL Rahul to open. I’ll bat somewhere in the middle. I was watching KL Rahul’s batting from home with my newborn in my arms. He played brilliantly so there is no need to change his position. KL deserves that spot at this point. The partnership with KL & Jaiswal probably won us the Test match – I don’t see we needed to change that – it was pretty easy for me, for the team it made sense,” Rohit said at the press conference.
KL Rahul to open. I’ll bat somewhere in the middle: Rohit Sharma
— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) December 5, 2024
KL Rahul back at the opening spot
KL Rahul started his Test career as an opener and even struck his first Test hundred while opening the batting. His maiden Test century came in Sydney in the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Since then, he has been in and out of the side due to poor form and injury concerns. Rahul has a solid technique and boasts all the qualities of being a high quallity opener in Test cricket.
His good technique and temperament was on display in the Perth Test where he battled out tough batting conditions with the new ball and batted exceptionally to steer India to a strong position by matching attack with defence.
KL Rahul in middle order
KL Rahul was pushed to the middle order earlier this year against England but soon found himself injured midway through the series. However, with Rohit absent for the first Test, Rahul was pushed up the order as a makeshift opener.
Rahul looked in great touch in both the innings of the Test match. He scored 26 in the first innings when the pitch was seaming and bouncing. In the second innings, he scored 77 off 176 balls and stitched a partnership of 201 runs for the opening wicket with Yashasvi Jaiswal.