With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma not playing Test cricket, KL Rahul has got his chance to open for India. He moved up the order and has done well, scoring 375 runs in his last 6 innings, averaging 62.50, with a few centuries.
Now that he has more responsibility, Rahul needs to give the team good starts and guide the innings. Former England batsman Owais Shah thinks that since Rahul is not in Kohli’s shadow anymore, he can be India’s main batsman, maybe even better than Shubman Gill who is also playing well.
Shah said on the Beard Before Wicket Podcast that KL Rahul can shine since he’s not in Kohli’s shadow anymore and this could be his chance to do better than Gill.
Shah said in the podcast I think he’s been in the shadow of Kohli. With Kohli at the crease, he was always going to be your main batsman and Rahul was under the radar. But this is his time to flourish. This is the first series without Virat Kohli. Look at the batting order, yes Shubman Gill has done really well, I wasn’t expecting it. I didn’t think he had it in him to do what he’s done so far,
Shah pointed out that Rahul has good technique and strong mindset and he feels Rahul is ready to show what he can do.
Shah added But I still feel KL Rahul is the best batsman in the batting line-up who you should be able to rely on. And it’s time for him to give the sort of numbers his technique and temperament promise. I feel KL, over 10-15 matches, may just outscore Shubman Gill. I think we will see him really come about in the next 12 months,
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KL Rahul’s century at Lord’s was important for the match and also made him only the second Indian player, after Dilip Vengsarkar, to be on the Lord’s honours board more than once.
Even though Rahul has been playing well, India is losing to England 1-2 in the five-match Test series. The third Test starts on July 23 in Manchester.
