KL Rahul returns to MCG hoping to revive his Test career

After India’s shambolic loss against the hosts Australia in Adelaide, there is plenty of noise around KL Rahul. One thing the batsman indeed does after hitting a century is close his ears. It is his belief to block out the noise even if the tone of the crowd is appreciative.

In one of the tweets, former India opener, Wasim Jaffer, encouraged Ajinkya Rahane to pick KL Rahul and Shubman Gill for the second test at MCG. Gautam Gambhir feels that KL Rahul should bat at No. 5.

KL Rahul made his test debut six years ago at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The wicket-keeper batsman played three awful strokes. His contribution to the team was 3 and 1 in both the innings.

The Karnataka batsman played an excellent inning in the second Test in Sydney. He batted in his usual place as an opener instead of No. 6 and hit a century. It was not his usual fast-break hundred, but an energetic one. Rahul continued smashing Test tons in Colombo and Jamaica as well. Team India then thought that they had found their overseas opener. 

Will KL Rahul open the batting or bat at Number 4?

Rahul’s form in white-ball cricket and IPL has helped him stay visible. His willingness to keep wickets has also secured his spot in the shorter formats of the game. But it is the red-ball success that he values the most.

After Prithvi Shaw failed in the first pink-ball match at Adelaide against Australia, the Mumbai player might have vacant the Melbourne Test spot. If Shaw is dropped from the playing 11, then either KL Rahul and Shubman Gill might be the perfect replacement. Sunil Gavaskar and Wasim Jaffer have indicated that they would want KL Rahul to be in the squad for the upcoming test match.

If KL Rahul is selected, then which position is he got to bat 4 is still a debate. KL Rahul has an experience of opening in Tests, and he also averages 44. On the other hand, Shubman Gill is inexperienced and facing Australia’s pace bowling attack that includes Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc might get difficult for him. If the wicket-keeper batsman opens the innings, then this offers him a great opportunity for redemption in a ground where he had a dread debut.

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