IND Vs SA: Sanjay Bangar Claims KL Rahul Is A Huge Number 6 Asset For India
Published - 01 Jan 2024, 02:31 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:24 AM
As the Indian team suffered an embarrassing 1st Test loss by an innings and 32 runs against South Africa in Centurion, calls for having a Test specialist batsman integrated into the squad rose higher. With very few positives from Johannesburg to take to Newlands for the 2nd Test, former Indian batting coach Sanjay Bangar feels that KL Rahul is already and will continue to remain an asset for India in the middle-order.
KL Rahul was the only Indian batter in the 1st Test to have performed brilliantly with Virat Kohli the other one. It was because of the Wicket-keeper batsman’s 101 off 137 in the 1st innings that India were able to put 245 runs on the board after an overall bleak batting performance from the top order.
The likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Shreyas Iyer all faltered in their first-ever Test match in South Africa, Rohit Sharma on his return to Test cricket after the CWC 2023 Final loss was not able to replicate his form while Virat Kohli after a quite 1st inning, tried his best to save India but lack of support saw Kohli’s efforts go in vain.
But it was KL Rahul who turned out to be the major positive for India as he scored his 2nd Test ton in Centurion. He became the first Indian batter to score multiple tons in the venue which was also his 8th Test Hundred of his career.
KL Rahul’s technique and mettle in foreign conditions has reaped many rewards for India and he has been on a different level since coming back from injury last September. He quickly cemented his spot in India’s ODI side with Centuries in the Asia Cup and the World Cup and Sanjay Bangar believes if his performances remain the same, Rahul will continue to strike from the middle order and his place will become untouchable.
“If he has to continue playing in that particular position, I think it’s going to be a huge plus for India because he is a stroke player. He has batted at various positions and he can bat very well with the tail.” – Bangar said.
“We have seen this not only in Test cricket but in other formats of the game as well. So all those things put together indeed make KL Rahul a capable No. 6 who can put India in winning situations in Test matches.” – Bangar added.
All Eyes on KL Rahul As India Look To Equal The Series
Of course, scoring a Hundred from number 6 in South African conditions too in a situation like that is not an easy job. But if India are to equal the series by 1-1, it goes without saying that KL Rahul might have to play another inning like that if required.
The pitch in Newlands is going to be different than the one we saw in Centurion. Newlands will offer more assistance to batters due to its flatness and bowlers will be on the lookout for hard work to get wickets. If the top-order isn’t able to capitalize, then KL Rahul will once again have the pressure of scoring.
Sometimes, it does get the best out of a player but sometimes it doesn’t. Therefore, it will be interesting to see how India’s batting unit responds in the 2nd Test starting from January 3rd.
