KL Rahul India’s Second-Best Batsman After Virat Kohli: Brian Lara
Published - 21 Jun 2019, 08:09 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:00 AM
Former West Indies captain Brian Lara has backed KL Rahul to do well as as an opener in the ongoing World Cup. Rahul was initially picked in the squad as a backup opener but the team played him at number four. However, after Shikhar Dhawan was ruled out of the World Cup with a thumb injury, Rahul was promoted as an opener.
In his first game as an opener in the tournament, he did extremely well by scoring 57 and adding 136 runs for the first wicket with Rohit Sharma in the 89-run win over Pakistan. The road ahead is only going to get tougher but Brian Lara is confident Rahul would deliver. The legendary batsman said that Rahul has got the requisite technique.
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Not only that, Lara went on to call Rahul the second best batsman in the Indian team after skipper Virat Kohli.
“Rahul is India’s second-best batsman after Virat Kohli and he has been the opening batsman for IPL (Indian Premier League) as well. While batting at number four, India has already made a masterstroke as just in case if there is a mishap in the beginning of the game, he has come in at number four and played like an opening batsman,” Brian Lara was quoted as saying in a media release.
“I think he will relish the opportunity of opening the batting order after Shikhar Dhawan has been ruled out. Especially after the technique that he has, facing the new ball is not going to be an issue for him,” added Lara.
India, meanwhile, have made a solid start to their World Cup campaign. In four games so far, the Men in Blue have not suffered any loss. They have won three while one was washed out. India will next take on Afghanistan on Saturday.
