Abhishek Nayar, India’s assistant coach, has given his full support to KL Rahul, confident that the talented batsman will soon fulfill his potential in the Test arena. Rahul’s journey in Test cricket, spanning a decade since his debut at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in 2014, has been a rollercoaster of brilliance and inconsistency. Blessed with immense potential, Rahul has faced repeated challenges that have seen him in and out of the Indian side due to fluctuating form.
Rahul has delivered several memorable performances, beginning with a century in his second Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). He followed this up with notable centuries in Colombo, Kingston, London, and twice in Centurion. Despite these impressive displays, his overall performance has been interspersed with periods of mediocrity. Rahul holds an average of 34.12, the lowest amongst Indian batsmen who have played 50 or more Tests, reflecting the inconsistencies that have plagued his career.
Primarily serving as an opener throughout his Test career, Rahul has recently transitioned to a middle-order role. Nayar is optimistic that this change will provide Rahul with the stability needed to showcase his abilities more consistently. “When you are playing for India, inspiration is not something you need,” Nayar remarked a day ahead of the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur. “Sometimes, it is just direction. Having spent a little time with KL over the last few days, he is someone who understands his game very well. Yes, there are times when a player is finding his feet.”
Nayar recalled Rahul’s performance in South Africa, where he played crucial innings for India, and expressed confidence that similar conversations between Gautam Gambhir and himself with Rahul could lead to a revival. “In South Africa, he played tremendous knocks for India. We are very hopeful with the kind of conversation that Gauti [Gautam Gambhir] bhai and I have had with him, that hopefully, we can see a turnaround in KL’s fortune. These things sometimes take time.”
During the first Test in Chennai, Rahul scored 16 and an unbeaten 22 in the two innings. His promising start in the second innings was cut short as India pushed for a declaration. Nonetheless, according to Nayar, these performances hinted at the potential Rahul possesses. “Even in the last game, although we did not give him much of a shot in the second innings, the way he was batting was encouraging. The kind of cricket he showcased is what we are expecting and hoping to see from him.
. I am confident that going forward, you will witness Rahul meeting these expectations.”
Rahul’s inclusion in the Chennai Test saw him replacing Sarfaraz Khan, who had demonstrated formidable performances against England, scoring three half-centuries in five innings. Sarfaraz’s journey to the national team has been one of perseverance and hard work in the domestic circuit, where he amassed a significant number of runs. Nayar emphasized the importance of communication and the role of the coaching staff in maintaining the morale of players like Sarfaraz, who might have to pave the way for others.
“The communication is very clear,” Nayar reiterated. “The last Test match was 7-8 months ago, and a lot has happened since then. We are very clear about our expectations from the players and what we want them to work on. Every player understands that being part of the Indian team is prestigious and that there might be times they have to sit out for a teammate. This has happened to the best, be it Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli.”
Sarfaraz is not expected to play in the Kanpur Test either. However, he continues to prepare diligently, seen taking extra practice time alongside Dhruv Jurel and Yashasvi Jaiswal ahead of the scheduled nets session.
“There will be times when he will have to make way for a senior player. In those times, it is crucial that we, as a support staff, maintain a growth mindset and continue to develop the players. When they return to the team, they should be ready to perform.”
While India is unlikely to tinkering with the batting line-up, Rahul is expected to retain his spot. There is potential for including another spinner in the team due to the specific conditions in Kanpur, although Nayar avoided confirming details about the team’s composition. “To be honest, I don’t know which surface we will play on yet,” Nayar said. “Both pitches look good. Kanpur is known for good pitches, but I’m not sure about the bounce. With the forecast, it will be interesting to see how the conditions unfold. Conditions can hugely influence how the pitch plays, so it is too early to make a judgment. We are hopeful for a sunny day and not an overcast Kanpur.”
As the Test series progresses, Rahul’s form will be under observation, with fans and team management alike hoping for him to deliver on his immense promise consistently.