Ahmedabad: If you see KL Rahul in any coaching session, after his stint is finished, he might be seen guiding Yashasvi Jaiswal and the opposite younger batters within the Indian crew.Without a designation like a captain or the vice-captain, he has quietly assumed the position of a mentor. In Australia, because the crew out of the blue seemed for an opener when skipper Rohit Sharma was unavailable for the primary Test in Perth final Nov, Rahul shortly accepted the crew’s name to transfer up from No. 6 and took up that position. This helped India by chance discover a productive opening partnership.On Thursday, as India launched into their residence Test season within the first Test in opposition to the West Indies, the bowlers’ good present had to be complemented by the batters. After Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav mixed marvellously to bowl the West Indies out for 162, it was crucial that India’s begin was safe and solid.Rahul and Jaiswal’s stand of 68 got here in two halves virtually. Their partnership, the fifth stand of fifty or extra in simply 9 Tests, began off cautiously. In 12 overs, they may rating simply 23. Rahul made 18 of these, and Jaiswal, a naturally attacking and fluent batter, was ultra-watchful with 4 off 36.
India’s KL Rahul, proper, and Yashasvi Jaiswal greets one another on the primary day of the primary Test cricket match between India and West Indies at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India. AP/PTI(AP10_02_2025_000362B)
At instances, the younger Mumbai southpaw seemed to be attempting to hit the ball too laborious and erred as he misplaced timing. After the England tour, Jaiswal performed in only one red-ball sport, the Duleep Trophy semis, and the shortage of game-time was exhibiting.Rahul was seen coming down the pitch steadily to be within the lefthander’s ear, virtually goading him to be calm and reassuring him that the free ball or the boundary would come quickly. The 22-minute rain break helped as Jaiswal out of the blue opened up and located rhythm again. Had he not perished attempting to lower a supply that was a contact too shut to him, their eventual stand of 68 would have been greater.During India’s two coaching periods right here prior to the Test, every time Jaiswal was batting, Rahul, from the adjoining internet, was seen having a phrase or two with him, sharing his observations. The identical occurred in Australia too.
Poll
Do you suppose KL Rahul’s mentoring position is essential for the younger Indian batters?
This Indian crew is one that’s at present within the midst of a transition, and that is the primary time that the facet is taking part in a Test at residence with out Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and R Ashwin. With a younger captain like Shubman Gill on the helm and India at present investing in a No. 3 within the type of Sai Sudharsan, KL Rahul’s solidity as an opener counts quite a bit.Fresh from cracking a 176 not out for India A vs Australia A in Lucknow, which helped them chase 412 within the fourth innings, a file for any Test, Rahul seemed safe whereas defending, and every time he stepped out to spin, he was decisive. The solely factor that troubled him was a cramp behind his knee on the fag finish of the day. With a very good evening’s relaxation, he can be hoping that the 53 not out ends in one thing far greater that may assist him erase the status of being modest at residence and productive abroad.
