Australia’s legendary fast bowler Glenn McGrath has praised KL Rahul for adapting to any role given by the team management. McGrath feels that Rahul has batted at all 11 positions. While it’s not true, he has batted from opening to no.7, all positions a speciallist batter does in ODIs. He had a fir bit of time as opener and then was given the middle order role. But with Shreyas Iyer stamping his authority, he shifted to no.5. On October 19, he did not walk out to bat at no.5 despite top order collapse as Axar Patel batted ahead of him. McGrath praised Rahul for his versatility as it is tough to fit into different roles in one’s career.
"They've sort of moved him around. I think he's nearly batted at all 11 positions at some stage. It must be tough for him to adapt. But he's one of those versatile players. He top-scored for India in fairly tough conditions. So from opening down to I am not sure how low he has batted. Sometimes that can mess your confidence up but I think for him, maybe he's just used to it and just adapts. He keeps as well, so he's a very versatile player," McGrath said on the Fast Bowling Cartel YouTube channel.
Rahul’s sensible knock
In the ODI series opener at Perth Stadium, walked out to bat in the 14th over when India were 45/4. Rain played spoilsport but Rahul remained focussed despite interruptions. When the first innings was reduced to six overs. He switched gears alongside Patel. The all-rounder scored 31 runs from 38 balls and departed in the 20th over. But, Rahul carried on and got India to a respectable total with help from Nitish Reddy's unbeaten 11-ball 19 cameo. Rahul scored 38 runs from 31 balls, featuring two fours and as many sixes. He fell to debutant Mitchell Owen in the penultimate over of the innings.
Rahul excels at no.5 but will he bat at no.6 in Adelaide?
This was the ninth time Rahul batted at no.6 position. He is yet to score a fifty at this position but averages 46.40 with a strike rate of 95.47. He is more suited to the no.5 role and has good numbers to. From 31 innings at no.5, he has scored 1,299 runs at an average of 56.47, including two centuries and nine fifties. His strike rate is also the best among all positions he has batted at – 96.36.
It is yet to be seen whether the shift to no.6 was a temporary tactic or Rahul bats at no.6 at Adelaide Oval in the third ODI as well.