India vs England 2021: He Was Absolutely In A Different League - Aakash Chopra Lauds KL Rahul
Published - 13 Aug 2021, 09:13 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:51 AM
Former Indian batsman Aakash Chopra hailed the centurion KL Rahul for playing in two different modes of batting in a single innings against England at the iconic Lord’s. Rahul who had come into the Indian test playing XI after a long time had changed his batting approach and was very cautious at the start of his innings.
Rahul wasn’t ticking the scoreboard until he hit a six off Moeen Ali straight down the ground. After that, it was pure class from the right-hander and it was important for him to get through the new ball which was the toughest period. Rahul and Rohit shared a 126 run stand for the first wicket and India couldn’t get a better start than this.
Aakash Chopra Describes KL Rahul’s Two-Faced Innings
Aakash Chopra mentioned that KL Rahul’s looked like him in the first 100 balls when he was happy to defend while in the next 100 balls, he totally increased the gears to look like Virender Sehwag who was very aggressive in his approach. He particularly was impressed with the quality of the square drives that KL Rahul played after getting set.
“KL Rahul scored 18 runs in his first 100 balls and then scored 100 runs in the next 120 deliveries. The first 100 balls he was Aakash Chopra and the next 100 was Virender Sehwag. Where can you get both in one, this was that kind of an innings.”
“His driving through the off-side, once he was set, he was absolutely in a different league. KL Rahul is going to give us a lot of happiness,” Aakash Chopra told on his Youtube Channel.
Aakash Chopra Feels KL Rahul Made Best Use Of The Opportunity
Aakash Chopra felt that KL Rahul’s innings is praiseworthy considering that he was originally picked up as a middle-order batter and had to open due to the circumstances. He added that Rahul used his opportunity to the fullest and made sure that he gets it right.
“I have been saying like a broken record that he was not going to play as an opener, was going to play in the middle order and that this is by default and not design but what he has been doing is praiseworthy.”
“He has shown once again that life gives you a chance but it is up to you what you do of it. He has made the best use of the opportunity given to him. The best thing is that he is still there,” he added.
KL Rahul was dismissed for 129 at the start of day 2 at Lord’s by Ollie Robinson.
