New Delhi: India remain hopeful of KL Rahul finding of his form within the stretch of nine Test matches in four months that begins with Bangladesh in Kanpur on Friday.
Though India defeated Bangladesh in the first Test in Chennai by 280 runs, Rahul managed only 16 and 22 not out after return to the five-day fold since January.
In his last Test appearance before Chennai, Rahul had made 86 and 22 against England in the first Test but then missed the next four games with a thigh injury.
The 32-year-old hit his last Test ton in December 2023 and it was his first in nearly three years. Rahul was preferred over Sarfaraz Khan, who impressed in the England series.
“I feel KL is someone who understands his game very well,” India’s assistant coach Abhishek Nayar said on Thursday.
“Yes, there are times where a player is finding his feet,” he added. “Hopefully we can have a turnaround in KL as well.”
India pin hopes on Rahul to be their middle order mainstay in red-ball cricket with three home Tests lined up against New Zealand after the Bangladesh series followed by a five-match tour of Australia.
Nayar pointed out that Rahul showed signs of a return to form during his 22 not out of 19 balls in India’s second innings in Chennai.
“The way he was batting in the second innings is the kind of cricket we are expecting and hoping for,” he said.
“I am pretty sure going forward you will see the expectations and the performances that you have from him.”
India undecided about team formation
The home team are considering including three spinners in the playing XI with the pitch’s nature and conditions deciding team formation. Two pitches have been kept ready for the match with forecast of rain on the first and the third days.
“I don’t know which surface we are going to play on yet. Both the pitches look pretty good. Kanpur is often known to have good pitches. I am not sure about the bounce yet,” Nayar said.
India defeated Bangladesh in the first Test in Chennai by 280 runs, KL Rahul managed only scores of 16 and 22 not out after return to the five-day fold since January. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
