Aakash Chopra believes KL Rahul’s exceptional recent performances as a Test opener can be termed his second coming in the game’s longest format.
KL Rahul is the top run-getter across both sides in the ongoing India versus South Africa 3 matches Test series. His 204 runs in the first 2 Tests have come at an excellent average of 51.00 and include a century and a half-century.
Aakash Chopra Reckons KL Rahul Knows Where His Off Stump Is And Is Happy To Bide His Time
During an interaction, Aakash Chopra reflected on the reason behind KL Rahul’s turnaround as a Test opener. KL Rahul thought his Test career was over with the likes of Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, Shubman Gill, and Rohit Sharma being preferred ahead of him.
He said: “We can, of course, call this KL Rahul 2.0. The difference, in my opinion, is the mindset or the comfort that this is how I am going to play. It takes time because the players of this era, they play all three formats, it is very difficult to understand the right template for every format.”
The former India opener highlighted that KL Rahul has developed an excellent understanding of his off-stump.
Aakash Chopra explained: “There is a temptation to play the big shots because you can play those. But the KL Rahul we were seeing at this point, he has such a good idea about his off-stump, where to play the deliveries and how many deliveries to leave. He is happy to bide his time.”
KL Rahul has exhibited immense patience since his comeback to the Indian Test side. He has refrained from poking at deliveries outside the off-stump and played close to his body. The 29-year-old KL Rahul, who debuted in Test cricket in 2014, has played 40 matches so far and scored 2321 runs at an average of 35.16.
KL Rahul was handed a lifeline in England and he came out all guns blazing to make 84 and 26 in the first at Trent Bridge and a magnificent century in the first innings at the Lord’s.
Aakash Chopra: KL Rahul Looking Very Compact
Aakash Chopra lauded all-format player KL Rahul for showing exemplary restraint in Test cricket.
He elaborated: “That’s remarkable for someone who, when he plays T20 cricket, has the ability to hit fours and sixes off every delivery. But he is defending or leaving the same deliveries and he is looking very compact.”
The 44-year-old concluded by saying that KL Rahul seems to have developed a better understanding of his game, much like Rohit Sharma.
Aakash Chopra observed:” The biggest change, in my opinion, he has done is to be comfortable in his own skin. Once you understand your game properly, you are not in a hurry because you are very confident. We saw the same thing with Rohit Sharma, if you see his England tour.”
KL Rahul has amassed 519 runs at a decent average of 43.25 in the six Tests he has played since the start of the England tour. He will hope to play another significant knock at Cape Town and help Team India register a maiden Test series win in South Africa.
In the 2nd Test, India was bowled out for 202 in their first innings, to which the hosts replied with 229. India then scored 266 in their second innings on a deteriorating pitch to set South Africa an imposing target of 240, which they reached with seven wickets to spare after a doggedly determined batting performance.
Virat Kohli was ruled out of the second Test against South Africa just before the start of the game because of an upper back spasm, leaving KL Rahul to lead the side in the crucial match. KL Rahul had said at the toss that Virat Kohli is expected to be available for the third and final Test from January 11 to be held in Cape Town.
KL Rahul’s life has taken a 180-degree turn over the last six months with a dramatic revival of his Test career. It was only six months ago that the keeper was nowhere near making India’s first-choice XI in Tests. In fact, the right-handed opening batter did not feature in a Test match for India for two years between 2019 and 2021.