Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar lavished praise on wicketkeeper batter KL Rahul's batting technique and awareness of his off-stump during the third Test match of Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 at Gabba. He compared KL Rahul's technique with Murali Vijay and Marnus Labuschagne.
Rahul was India's top scorer during the first inning of the Gabba Test with an 84 off 139. India's top batters Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant departed on single-digit scores. It took a blinder from Smith off Nathan Lyon’s bowling late in the first session to get him out.
“KL Rahul left deliveries very close to the off-stump so consistently that it reminded me of Marnus Labuschagne yesterday and, before him, Murali Vijay, who also had exceptional off-side judgment. Except for the first ball today, where he slightly followed the delivery, his judgment outside off-stump was fantastic," Sunil Gavaskar said while speaking on Star Sports.
“If you play the ball further forward, you risk edging it to slips. Rahul’s ability to play late and leave balls at the last moment was commendable. It’s a level of patience and skill that stood out in this innings," Gavaskar explained.
After Day 4 ended, India wicketkeeper batter KL Rahul also explained his strategy while playing in third Test match at Gabba. KL Rahul said that for the first 20-30 overs he leaves the ball and tries to play as tight as possible and then tries to attack Aussies with the ball gets old.
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"We don't mind playing in fast & bouncy pitches but first 20-30 overs, you have to give the bowlers respect - leave the ball & play tight as possible and then really try to cash with older ball - That is my plan to bat in Test Cricket," KL Rahul told press after day 4 of Gabba Test.
Brief Scores after Day 4 of Gabba Test: India: 252/9 (KL Rahul 84, Ravindra Jadeja 77, Pat Cummins 4/80) vs Australia: 445/10 (Travis Head: 152, Steve Smith: 101, Jasprit Bumrah: 6/76).
