KL Rahul walked out bat at number three
Photo : AP
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- KL Rahul is India’s top run-getter in the BGT so far
- Rahul was demoted in the batting order
- Shubman Gill was dropped from the playing XI
Amid their struggles with the bat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), India made a huge change in their batting order as KL Rahul did not open the batting despite being the team’s best batter in the series so far. Coming into the game, Rahul has 235 runs in six innings at an average of 47 with two half-centuries.
Despite being the only batter showing any semblance of consistency in the batting order, Rahul walked out to bat at number three. Indian captain Rohit Sharma walked out to open the batting with Yashasvi Jaiswal after playing at number six in the Adelaide and Brisbane Tests.
The move was a tactical choice by Team India after the surprise decision to drop Shubman Gill. Rahul replaced the 25-year-old at number three. Rohit’s bold move backfired as his poor run of form continued. The Indian captain departed after making just three runs, with Pat Cummins dismissing him in the second over of the innings.
India has played a merry-go-round with Rahul’s batting position in 2024. He started the year by playing at number six against South Africa at Cape Town before being promoted to number four in the Hyderabad Test against England. The 32-year-old missed the last four matches of the series due to an injury. He made a comeback in the home series against Bangladesh and batted at number six in Chennai and Kanpur. Rahul retained the spot for the Bengaluru Test against New Zealand but was dropped for the Pune and Mumbai Tests.
The right-handed batter opened the batting for the first time in 20 months during the Perth Test in Rohit’s absence. India decided to not change their opening combination in Adelaide and Brisbane.
Meanwhile, Rohit’s struggles with the bat this season continue with just 156 runs in 14 innings at an average of 11.07 with just one half-century.
In the recent 4th Test match between India and Australia at the MCG, fans were surprised to see KL Rahul not opening the batting for India alongside Rohit Sharma or Yashasvi Jaiswal. Many were left wondering why the talented batsman was not given the opportunity to showcase his skills at the top of the order.
The decision to not have KL Rahul open the batting can be attributed to a number of factors. Firstly, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill had formed a successful opening partnership in the previous match, with both players scoring valuable runs. It is likely that the team management wanted to stick with this combination in order to maintain stability at the top of the order.
Additionally, KL Rahul has been in and out of the Indian team in recent times and has struggled to find consistency in his performances. With the emergence of young talents like Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal, the competition for opening slots has increased, making it difficult for Rahul to break into the side.
Furthermore, the team management may have felt that Rahul’s playing style and form were better suited to the middle order, where he could provide stability and firepower in the later stages of the innings.
Overall, while it may have been disappointing for fans to not see KL Rahul open the batting in the 4th Test, the decision was likely made with the best interests of the team in mind. It will be interesting to see how Rahul responds to this setback and how he continues to contribute to the Indian team in future matches.
Tags:
- KL Rahul batting position
- India vs Australia 4th Test
- Rohit Sharma opening partnership
- Yashasvi Jaiswal debut
- MCG Test match
- Indian cricket team lineup
- KL Rahul batting order
- Australian bowling attack
- Team India strategy
- Cricket match analysis
#Explained #Rahul #Open #Batting #India #Australia #MCG #4th #Test #Rohit #Sharma #Yashasvi #Jaiswal
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