KL Rahul’s glovework delighted former India head coach Ravi Shastri in the first ODI of a three-game series against Australia on March 17 in Mumbai. Shastri was so impressed with Rahul’s performance behind the wickets that he supported the veteran batsman to make a comeback to the Test squad in June for the World Test Championship final—this time as a wicketkeeper.
Rahul took charge as a wicket-keeper even in the presence of Ishan Kishan in the first ODI in Mumbai. Kishan started the series since captain Rohit Sharma had to miss the first game to tend to personal matters. For example, Rahul caught Australia’s stand-in skipper Steve Smith with a spectacular diving catch, and he was otherwise quite reliable with the gloves. As the new ball in Mumbai was doing a little bit of damage, Rahul flung himself about a lot in the opening few overs, too, to eke out a few more runs.
While Rahul has kept wicket for India in 16 of his 52 ODI appearances, he has yet to do so in a Test match. But, Rahul’s recent batting struggles caused him to lose his spot in the Test team. During the four-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia, Rahul played the first two Tests before being benched in favour of Shubman Gill.
Ravi Shastri backs KL Rahul as the wicket-keeper in the WTC finals
After the fourth and final Test in Ahmedabad was through, Gill had secured the opening berth with his maiden hundred at home in Tests. During India’s Test match, wicketkeeper KS Bharat was the man in charge. Ravi Shastri, the Indian team’s former head coach, gave two reasons for his team’s choice to start KL Rahul as wicketkeeper in the opening ODI.
“He has really done well to keep the selectors interested ahead of the WTC final,” Shastri said on air for Star Sports during the first ODI.
KS Bharat missed his chance to cement his spot in Test XI at the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Since Rishabh Pant would miss the Tests due to injuries sustained in a vehicle accident in December 2022, Bharat was chosen to replace Pant in the lineup instead of Ishan Kishan. Bharat only scored 101 runs during the course of four Tests and dropped a couple of catches.
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Twitter Reacts:
Rahul has a great record in overseas he should get a chance
Advertisement— Sunny (@Sunny4732152kl) March 19, 2023
With Shreyas Iyer possibly missing, I'd prefer both Rahul and Bharat playing in the middle order at 6,7 https://t.co/zYywfT9Saa
— Himanshu (हिमांशु) (@Muchonwalihansa) March 19, 2023
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Why do people think keeping for 50 overs is the same as keeping for 90 overs?
AdvertisementAnd you will have to take many balls in one 90 overs day than you will do in a 3 match ODI series.
And it's England where the lateral movement will be big for full time WKs let alone part time ones. https://t.co/AqM57At9FW
Advertisement— Archith (@UtdArc) March 19, 2023
200 percent #KLRahul https://t.co/DLT5m90bY2
— mrx (@rcbrcb88) March 19, 2023
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Suneil Shetty to Ravi Shastri inviting him for dinner pic.twitter.com/B7ZAzANsbk
Advertisement— ً (@SarcasticCowboy) March 19, 2023
It's great. I know Rahul hasn't been in great touch lately in Test but is still better than Bharat, especially in English conditions where he performed in the past, and he can keep in England; it's just more difficult to keep in Spin conditions.
— Adam (@MainAdamz) March 19, 2023
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