KL Rahul has had an inconsistent run across formats of late. As vice-captain Rahul returned to the squad after getting married, there were calls to select in-form Shubman Gill as skipper Rohit Sharma’s opening partner. In the Nagpur Test, Rahul shared a crucial 76-run opening partnership with Rohit and played out the new ball but failed to convert the start. After India took a 144-run lead on Day 2, batting coach Vikram Rathour in the press conference was asked about whether Rahul is lucky to be considered in the playing XI to which he replied, "I won't be able to comment on that."
"But he (Rahul) has scored two hundreds in his last 10 Tests – one in England and other in South Africa and also has a couple of fifties. So we are not yet there."
Rahul got dismissed by debutant Todd Murphy on Day 1. He handed a simple catch to the 22-year-old at the fag end of the third session. He scored 20 runs from 71 deliveries.
Rathour heaped praises on skipper Rohit who scored a century on a tough wicket as he said, "It was a special innings by Rohit and it is a great feeling (to see him score runs). He showed good temperament and it was very important innings as the surface wasn't easy to bat on.”
This was Rohit’s first Test ton as captain. He scored 120 runs to help India take lead in the first innings. Since he started opening in Tests, his numbers have been phenomenal.
"That is the quality of his batting," Rathour said.
"He has got runs on seaming tracks in England. But if we talk about this particular innings, he was made to work hard for his runs. Normally, with Rohit when he scores his first few runs, he then pushes the score. But here he had to work hard," he added.
After Rohit's ton, half-centuries from Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja have put in the driver's seat. However, Rathour does not believe that the game is just finished yet.
"I don't think so. You can't say till the last ball is bowled," he said cautiously.
He was also asked about whether it was Patel’s prowess with the bat which was the reason behind him being picked ahead of Kuldeep Yadav.
"He (Axar) has been exceptional with the ball so that was not even a consideration. Yes, (his) batting is a bonus," he replied.
