IND vs SA: "What He Needs To Aspire..." - Venkatesh Prasad Acknowledges KL Rahul's Impressive 2023 Form

Former cricketer Venkatesh Prasad acknowledged Indian wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul’s impressive batting performances this year. Venkatesh Prasad mentioned that KL Rahul played a remarkable innings in his comeback Test against South Africa in Centurion.

KL Rahul was previously omitted from the Test team during the Border-Gavaskar series against Australia. Additionally, he had subpar performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. He was ruled out of the IPL 2023 after sustaining a quadriceps muscle injury.

Rahul made a remarkable comeback by scoring a century against Pakistan in the Asia Cup and continued his impressive form throughout the 2023 World Cup. He emerged as the fourth-highest run scorer for India, scoring 452 runs in 11 matches with an average of 75.

KL Rahul Has Had A Great Year – Venkatesh Prasad

In a Q&A session on his X handle, Venkatesh Prasad, who had previously expressed criticism of KL Rahul on social media, emphasized that the wicketkeeper batter needs to maintain consistency in Test cricket and realize his true potential in the format.

“He has had a great year in one day cricket and in his comeback test in centurion played a wonderful knock in the first innings. Happy for him. Consistency in Test Cricket and realising his true potential is what he needs to aspire for imho,” Prasad wrote.

He has had a great year in one day cricket and in his comeback test in centurion played a wonderful knock in the first innings. Happy for him. Consistency in Test Cricket and realising his true potential is what he needs to aspire for imho. https://t.co/gjxLgLr1eU

— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) December 31, 2023

The Rohit Sharma-led team suffered an innings and 32-run loss during the Boxing Day Test against South Africa in Centurion. Rahul played a significant role in India’s first innings, scoring 101 runs off 137 deliveries to help the visiting team reach a total of 245 runs.

Notably, the 31-year-old batter became the first visiting player to hit two Test centuries in Centurion. Rahul joined his teammate Virat Kohli in the second spot for the most centuries by an Indian in South Africa, while Sachin Tendulkar leads with five centuries.

The Karnataka-born cricketer will be next seen in action during the second and final Test of the two-match series, which will be played at Newlands in Cape Town from January 3 to 7. He will continue to keep the stumps and bat in the middle order in the second game.

Virat Kohli Has Proved Again – Venkatesh Prasad

During the same session, Venkatesh Prasad expressed that Virat Kohli has demonstrated his prowess and resilience, marking this year as one of his best. Prasad highlighted Kohli’s renewed hunger and zeal as refreshing traits of a genuine champion.

“He has proved again that he is a champion and the best batsman of this generation, been a phenomenal year for him. Would rate this as his best year, especially since it had come after a couple of difficult years for him. That hunger and zeal was refreshing and sign of a true champion that Virat is,” Prasad said.

Also read: IND vs SA: “Bad Day In The World Cup Final, Lost WTC Too..”- Venkatesh Prasad Takes Indirect Dig At Rohit Sharma-Led Team India