ENG vs IND 2018: KL Rahul is the Next Big Thing in Indian Cricket, says Sunil Gavaskar

Former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar believes that KL Rahul is the next big thing in Indian cricket. Rahul played one of his best knocks in the limited overs form as he batted at the top of his game in the first T20I.

The flamboyant right-hander timed the ball to perfection to score his second hundred in the shortest format of the game. Consequently, the Karnataka batsman was able to take India over the finishing line. Rahul scored an unbeaten 101 runs off just 54 balls to help the visitors cruise to a comfortable win.

KL Rahul was on song in the first T20I.

Sunil Gavaskar wrote in his TOI column, “What they didn’t anticipate was the magic of Kuldeep Yadav, who quite literally had the English batsmen like puppets on a string. The deliveries with which he drew Bairstow and Joe Root forward, playing for the wrong turn, brought a hearty laugh from those who know of English batsmen’s struggles against wrist spin. Chahal perhaps wasn’t able to grip the new ball and so wasn’t at his best but Kuldeep, brought in when Buttler was rampaging, changed the game in a jiffy. It was magical”.

The Little Master went on to add that KL Rahul brought out his piece de resistance in the first T20I. Gavaskar said that the Rahul early talent was palpable in his debut series against Australia. Rahul had scored a fine century in his second Test match against Australia.

“Then came a mini-masterpiece from the bat of someone who is going to be the next big thing in Indian cricket. Right from his debut when he squared up against Mitchell Johnson on the last tour of Australia, KL Rahul has looked a class apart. The ease with which he tore into the English bowling was breathtaking and even had the Indian skipper clapping.”

It was a brilliant performance from the tourists in their first match of the tour. Kuldeep Yadav and KL Rahul were the architects of India’s win. Thus, both these young players have also added to their confidence bag.

Consequently, India will look to continue their good form to seal the series against England.