KL Rahul made a little shimmy to reach the ball, unfurled his wrist and executed a picture perfect cover drive, leaving Prabath Jayasuriya smiling wistfully on the opening day of the first Test in Galle. It was a personal statement of his authority over Sri Lanka’s premier bowler. But it also reflected India’s newfound confidence against tweakers after setbacks at home against New Zealand and South African slow bowlers dimmed their aura. In a way it was in the fitness of things that the senior most batter in this Indian team took it upon himself the task of stonewalling the Lankan spinners.
“He is someone, when he plays in one-day (match) as you have seen him, he bats at number 6 or 5.
Now, he is a lot better at rotating strike too,” Jayaraj told PTI. “Now, the way he is batting, he is taking a lot of responsibilities, he is trying to create a lot of partnerships, and that is something really good to have, and he has been very, very consistent,” said Kotak. But Rahul went through extensive preparations before crossing the Palk Strait at the Wings Sports Centre in Mumbai managed by former India player and selector Jatin Paranjape. “Once he gets a good start, Rahul knows how to capitalise on it. For him, I think, it was all about sustaining his concentration for a longer period. But as an opener, Rahul values the team’s cause more than making an individual style statement. India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak underlined the responsibility Rahul was willing to shoulder for the team. So, when you are a senior batsman, and if you are open to bat at any number and help the team, I think that is a great player to have. “So for a team, he is someone who is very useful. In a red ball match he opens, in a one-day match he bats wherever required.
