Rahul eyes second innings for big one

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, March 26

After Cheteshwar Pujara (405 runs), opener KL Rahul (343) has been the most consistent batsman for India in this series. He has scored five half-centuries till now but has not been able to convert any of them into a century.  On Day 2 of the fourth Test, Rahul (60) faced the Australian quicks with gumption in the first session.

But when the time came to capitalise on the hard work, he got out playing a hook to a short ball by Pat Cummins. In no position to hit the shot, Rahul’s miss-hit went straight to the cover fielder.

“Horrible execution for sure,” he said. “But having batted out there in the middle for a long time, I thought I could have taken him on as there were no fielders at the back. Like I said, horrible execution, the intent was right.” 

“But I can always sit here and question the intent and a hundred things. But then, in the middle, I thought I could take him on but (it was) unfortunate it didn’t go my way. Hopefully, in the second innings, I can get him away. So I will go out with a positive intent in the second innings again.”

This has been a recurrent theme with his batting in this series.

Barring his dismissal in the second innings of the third Test in Bengaluru, Rahul has thrown away his wicket playing aggressive shots. Today, Cummins’ verbal volleys along with his bouncers lured the Karnataka opener into the trap. But Rahul sounded unapologetic. “Quite honestly, not regretting anything,” he said. “Obviously, a little disappointed that I have not been able to convert the starts and get big runs for the team. As an opening batsman, my responsibility is to spend as much time in the middle as I can, try and get big scores in the first innings so that we don’t have to bat in the second innings.”

“On a personal front, it hasn’t been the worst series for me. Got starts, batted really well, enjoyed batting in the middle, and the Aussie bowlers haven’t made it easy. They have challenged us in all the games. Thoroughly enjoyed batting and hopefully I can play one good knock in the second innings. Might be the knock I have been waiting for in the whole series.”

Rahul’s batting thrives on drives — today he hit nine boundaries in his knock of 60 runs, and ducked bouncers repeatedly till a moment of madness ruined it. Former India opener Sunil Gavskar said, “He is a class player but he needs to get mentally strong.”

Rahul admitted that this was the toughest session he had endured in his career and he would like to finish the series with a three-figure score.