K.L. Rahul’s Rise in Test Cricket

V.V.S. Laxman’s Impact on Test Cricket

• V.V.S. Laxman, a former cricketer, played for Hyderabad Cricket Association XI in the Safi Darashah Trophy in 2012, preparing for the international season.
• Laxman’s forgettable tour of Australia led to his retirement from Test cricket.
• K.L. Rahul, a youngster from the opposition, impressed Laxman with his performance in the Safi Darashah Trophy.
• Rahul had played for the India Under-19 team and made his Ranji Trophy debut in 2010.
• He impressed the selectors enough to make it to the South Zone Duleep Trophy team the following season, securing a berth in the India-A team that toured Australia in July 2014.
• Rahul made his debut at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Boxing Day Test of 2014, batting at No. 6 in the first innings before being pushed up to No. 3.
• Despite losing M. Vijay in the first over of India’s reply to Australia’s 572 for seven, Rahul batted with rare composure and assurance.
• Rahul scored an international century in each of the three formats within 20 months of his Test debut.
• His maiden One-Day International ton came on debut in Harare against Zimbabwe in June 2016.
• Rahul’s maiden centuries had come overseas, adding to his monumental achievement.

Rahul’s Struggle for Consistency in Tests

• Rahul, a former free-stroking ball-striker, has struggled for consistency in the longer format due to mental boggling and injuries.
• He has struggled to shed mental shackles, often going into a shell of his own making.
• Despite his talent, Rahul has found his calling as a middle-order wicketkeeper-batter-finisher in ODIs.
• He faces his most immediate and intense challenge in the longest format, the Tests.
• Sarfaraz Khan has been Rahul’s closest competitor for a middle-order slot in the Test team.
• He has been appointed vice-captain for both white-ball formats during recent limited-overs showdowns in Sri Lanka.
• Rahul has tactical and strategic skills, but leadership position is not his priority.
• India will have a major challenge in the upcoming five-Test outing to Australia between November and January.
• Rahul’s legacy will be shaped by his consistent contribution to the team’s cause.