Former Indian batter VVS Laxman has heaped praise on KL Rahul for making a solid comeback in the Test format. Rahul was able to grab his opportunity in the four-Test matches against England as he was able to deliver the goods.
The flamboyant batter scored 315 runs in four Test matches at an average of 39.38, with the help of one fifty and one hundred.
Rahul got his chance as Shubman Gill and Mayank Agarwal were injured before the Test series against England. Thus the Karnataka batter got an opportunity to open the innings with Rohit Sharma and he was able to provide good starts to the team.
VVS Laxman said while talking to Star Sports, “What a fantastic comeback he [Rahul] has made into this Indian Test team. He got an opportunity because Mayank Agarwal and Shubman Gill were injured but he seized the opportunity.”
“We know that he is an aggressive player, he is a stroke player but he also knows that if you want to succeed in South Africa, you should know where your off-stump is. We saw in the series against England, he was leaving a lot of deliveries.”
On the other hand, former Indian opener Aakash Chopra added that KL Rahul’s confidence was low in the previous tour of South Africa. Rahul could only score 30 runs in two Test matches against the Proteas on the 2017-18 tour.
“Last time around his confidence was really low when he had gone to South Africa. He was fidgety, indecisive, feet were not going anywhere, he was just chasing the ball or rather trying to compensate for the lack of feet movement with his hands. It is difficult to open in South Africa.”
Chopra expects KL Rahul to have a better series against the Proteas and deliver the goods for the team in the upcoming tour.
“I think this time it will be different after that successful tour of England and a lot of runs in white-ball cricket. One thing that Rahul must keep in mind, of course, know where your off-stump is – that’s the basic, but also just the decisive feet movement, either go front or use the depth of the crease and go back and be decisive in your decision making.”
The first Test match between South Africa and India will be played at Centurion from December 26.
