LONDON: KL Rahul is not even an open appetizer of the second Indian in England but when the task fell to his lap for the first test at Trent Bridge, the 29-year-old ensured his memory lasted longer than one match.
With 244 running from four innings, including the sixth test, Rahul is an Indian highest scorer in the ongoing five-match series that they lead 1-0.
After Shubman Gill returned home with a stress fracture before the series began, the agarwal is expected to be the opening partner of Rohit Sharma in Nottingham.
But agarwal suffered a concussion during training, leaving Rahul to step up for his first test in almost two years – and now in the mood surrendered in that position.
Rahul’s 84 is the highest score by an Indian in a trent bridge test drawn like 129 in God, where his team destroyed England on the last day to 151 running.
Automatic choice in limited cricket-overs because of the free assessment style, Rahul now shows its ability to play the game wait too.
“Comeback Rahul as an opening in a cricket test is not so much about his ability to succeed above – you don’t score five tons of tests (four of them away from home) if you don’t have skills,” the former opening Indian Aakash Chopra wrote on the Espncricinfo website.
“If the first innings of the tour, 84 on Trent Bridge, showed that he trusted his skills against the new ball, the century Rahul in Sir stipulates that he returned for a good one.” Overcoming the tendency to pursue the ball outside the stump, he only scored 18 first balls he faced in God and accelerated later.
“He is willing to repay his time and wait for the right time to climb Ante,” Chopra said.
“The next challenge for him is to expand this good shape as long as possible.” The third test began in Headingley on August 25.