India’s eternal floater doesn’t worry about his batting position anymore. Make him open or slot him in the middle, Rahul‘s ready to roll. Australia is where it all began for him, all he needs now is a chance to contribute…
ADELAIDE: As Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal sweated it out under the blazing South Australian sun, batting as a pair in the pace nets, a composed KL Rahul took fresh guard against the sidearm throwers alongside. Minutes earlier, Rahul had been reminiscing about Australia being the place where it all began for him as a Test opener.
Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Back on the 2014-15 tour – made famous by Virat Kohli‘s twin Adelaide tons and MS Dhoni’s shock retirement from the format – the then-22-year-old Rahul’s Test debut in Melbourne had been a forgettable one.
He was slotted in at No. 6 first up and managed three off eight balls, falling to a streaky attempt at slog sweeping Nathan Lyon and managing only a top edge. In his second dig he was pushed up to No. 3 and fell in equally horrifying fashion, another top edge to a short one from Mitchell Johnson costing him his wicket. Luckily, by the next Test in Sydney, his nerves had started to settle.
KL Rahul Press Conference ahead of 2nd Test
Pushed up to open, Rahul came up with a composed 262-ball 110, keeping the demons at bay with discipline and verve to announce his arrival. And this has been his rollercoaster story ever since, with crests following troughs and long absences in-between some stellar performances, especially away from home in challenging conditions.
Even a decade on, he remains the eternal floater in India’s batting order, with even the disciplined and match-winning contribution in Perth in the first Test of this series offering no guarantee of a settled spot.
“Luckily for me, I’ve batted in different positions. Early on, it was a bit of a challenge mentally, how to play those first 20-25 balls. Not so much technique, but what shots to play, how early I can attack, how cautious I need to be.
Those were a bit tricky early on. But now that I’ve played in ODIs, Tests and all over the place, it’s given me a little bit of an idea how I need to manage my innings. It’s the start that’s important, whether I’m batting at the top or middle. The first 30-40 balls. If I can manage that, everything else starts to seem like regular batting.
“Ten years ago, it was my first Test series. It was a bit surreal. There was a lot going on in my head. I’ve learnt a lot. I’m looking forward to the next 10 years and Australia is where it all started for me,” Rahul said.
In India’s remarkable Perth win a few days ago, Rahul – opening for the first time since Feb 2023 – chewed up 74 balls as India collapsed for 150 in 298 balls in their first innings. He then stayed put for 176 balls in a 201-run opening stand as Jaiswal scored 161.
“I was told quite early (to open). I missed out in the New Zealand series, so I was told to be ready. I had enough time to prepare. I’ve batted enough at the top of the order and know what processes I need to follow,” Rahul said.
However, with captain Rohit back and No. 3 Shubman Gill having recovered from his finger injury, could Rahul be shoved down the order again? If yes, it’s only to be expected, since Rohit has ruled the opening slot since 2019. If not, it may well be the start of a fresh chapter again in Australia.
“This is my first pink-ball Test, so I’ll try and face up to whatever comes my way,” he said. “I just want to go out there, bat and play for the team. I just want to be in the playing XI. Fit me in wherever.”
The person holding the key is captain Rohit, who batted at No. 4 in the practice game in Canberra, keeping Jaiswal and Rahul’s opening slots intact. So maybe Rahul has been told where he’ll bat? The answer was equivocal. “I’ve been told, but I’ve also been told not to share it. You’ll have to wait for Day One or maybe when the captain comes here tomorrow.”
