“Will sit and assess disappointing starts”: KL Rahul
Team India’s thumping win against the West Indies on Thursday has taken them a step closer to the semi-finals spot. They’re now the only team to be unbeaten in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup so far. Much of the credit has been rightfully given to India’s bowling line-up, one that is turning out to be world-class by proving their mettle on the big stage. Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s untimely injury came as a blessing in disguise for Mohammed Shami, who has produced outstanding results – 8 wickets in the 2 matches that he has played.
However, few chinks remain in India’s batting department, as has been evident in the last couple of games. The middle order still appears to be fragile, with the shuffling of the No.4 position. KL Rahul, who was first slotted to bat at that position is back at the top, replacing his injured teammate Shikhar Dhawan. To be fair, Rahul has done a decent job. In the 3 matches that he has opened the batting, his scores read 57, 30 and 48. But, when you’re replacing the swashbuckling Dhawan in an explosive top order that features Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, these starts aren’t enough. One of Dhawan’s biggest strengths has been the ability to put the pressure back on the opposition by taking the attack to their bowlers. Rahul isn’t in the same mould, but he needs to be the anchor that his partner at the other end needs.
Speaking to the press after India’s victory at Manchester, Rahul expressed his disappointment on not being able to convert his good starts.
“A bit disappointing,” he said. “After doing the hard work and after getting through the first 10 overs or 15 overs… or as an opening batsman to get the first 25-30 runs is the hardest time. And to do that, and when the time comes to accelerate and maybe take the game deeper so our lower order can come in and play freely… we know when they come after the 35th over or at the 40, they can do maximum damage.”
But the pitches in India’s last two matches haven’t been a batting paradise. The fact that India defended scores of 224 and 268 on these wickets can solely be attributed to their lion-hearted bowling effort. Only captain Kohli has been able to get back-to-back fifties in those games, while both Rohit and Rahul have struggled with their shots.
“We can’t always go in thinking it’s a 300 wicket. The last two wickets haven’t been the easiest to bat on. Yet, without any of us scoring a hundred, we still managed to get 240 and 260, 260-plus today, which is great, which only gives us more confidence in our batting unit, knowing that if one of us or two of us go on to get a big 50 or a big hundred, it will just make it easier to get us to 300,” he said.
On Sunday, India will face an English side coming at them with full force after two humiliating losses on the trot. Their bowlers have been breathing fire and their batsmen have all the power and talent in the world. It’s going to be a like-for-like contest, with India also possessing similar weapons. Dhawan did his job, Rohit’s waiting for a double, Kohli’s nearing a defining hundred. Rahul, a good player of spin, can well make England dance to his tunes on a rank-turner at Edgbaston.
