Head coach Gautam Gambhir has been spending most of his time throughout Group India’s follow session over the past two days with KL Rahul, particularly when the latter confronted the spinners within the nets.
Gambhir is perhaps new to the India set-up, however he is aware of a factor or two about Rahul’s recreation. Gambhir was with the Lucknow Tremendous Giants (LSG) as mentor for 2 years within the Indian Premier League (IPL), with Rahul because the captain.
On Thursday, when Rahul switched nets to face the spinners, Gambhir instantly jogged right down to have a better look. Rahul, who within the first innings of the Chennai Check appeared uncertain concerning the size of deliveries and was caught at ahead quick leg, was as soon as once more troubled by the web bowlers.
It prompted Gambhir to gesture in direction of Rahul to make use of his toes. The subsequent few balls, he stepped out of the crease and hit a number of booming photographs down the bottom. The pinnacle coach then requested Rahul to play the ahead defence and check out utilizing his wrists to get singles. There have been a few bat-and-pad possibilities that might have simply gone to the short-leg fielder within the match. However within the subsequent 10 minutes, Rahul appeared to grasp the duty regally, and the reward was a pat on the again from the coach as he left the nets.
Since making his Check debut in 2014, Rahul is but to the touch the heights anticipated of him. Being tipped as a future captain, he now faces a stiff problem for a spot within the taking part in XI.
Through the years, Rahul has donned totally different hats. be it of an opener, No 5 batsman, and even performed a Check collection in South Africa because the specialist wicketkeeper. However now below Gambhir, he has been assigned the No 6 place.
Earlier than getting injured earlier this yr, the 32-year-old appeared in superb contact. After having a superb ODI World Cup with each bat and gloves, he scored a regal 101 at Centurion, the place the opposite Indian batsmen struggled. He made 86 and 22 in opposition to England within the first Check in Hyderabad, earlier than lacking the remainder of the collection because of a quadricep tendon damage.
Nevertheless, Group India has stored religion in Rahul’s skill. In Chennai, it was captain Rohit Sharma, who backed him and in Kanpur, it was assistant coach Abhishek Nayar.
Kanpur: Indian batting coach Abhishek Nayar addresses a press convention forward of the 2nd cricket Check match between India and Bangladesh on the Inexperienced Park Stadium, in Kanpur, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (PTI Picture/Vijay Verma)
“Typically, it’s simply route and I really feel KL is somebody who understands his recreation very nicely,” Nayar informed reporters. “In South Africa, he performed super knocks. We’re very hopeful with the form of communication that Gautam has had and I’ve had with him that hopefully, we are able to have a turnaround in KL as nicely.”
Nayar mentioned that Rahul confirmed glimpses of type through the first Check win in opposition to Bangladesh. He checked out his fluent greatest throughout his temporary keep on the crease, scoring 22 off 19 balls.
“The best way he was batting within the second innings is the form of cricket we predict and hoping for,” Nayar mentioned. “I’m fairly positive going ahead you will notice extra such performances from him.”