KL Rahul's sensational comeback century reshapes India's cricket dynamics

KL Rahul, Image Ctsy: BCCI

Even as Virat Kohli crosses one batting milestone after another, KL Rahul made a remarkable comeback into the Indian playing XI. Rahul, who was playing his first international innings after March 2023 and his first competitive innings after four months, scored a brilliant unbeaten 111 while batting at No. 4, marking his sixth ODI century.

Rahul, who underwent surgery for the right upper thigh injury he sustained during the IPL on May 1, passed his match fitness test with aplomb on Sunday and Monday, showing no signs of uneasiness during his 106-ball essay, being at the crease for 32.1 overs spread over two days.

The way the 31-year-old right-hander from Karnataka batted against Pakistan was as if he had not missed any matches in between. Neither the four-month break from the game until he batted on Sunday nor the rain interruption on Sunday evening affected his batting in any manner. Rahul was not originally slated to play this match.

Still, a back spasm suffered by the designated No. 4 batsman, Shreyas Iyer, just before the toss, allowed Rahul to get a game. Rahul grabbed the opportunity with both hands and played the Pakistan bowlers impeccably, driving, cutting, and sweeping with great abandon. When you are in a partnership with Virat Kohli, you are bound to run a lot between the wickets and improve your fitness in the process.

During an unbroken 233-run partnership for the third wicket, the two ran for 119 runs between the wickets.

Rahul's selection for the Asia Cup and the World Cup has been widely debated. The selectors, led by Ajit Agarkar, designated Rahul as the first-choice wicketkeeper for the World Cup and named him in the Asia Cup without him playing domestic matches.

Practice matches arranged by the National Cricket Academy during his rehabilitation were all that he had. A niggle kept him out of the Group stage of the Asia Cup, delaying his return to international action.

Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan grabbed the chance as a wicketkeeper-batsman with a memorable knock of 82 against Pakistan on September 2. There were debates as to whether Kishan or Rahul should be the wicketkeeper-batsman based on current form. However, Iyer's misfortune came as a blessing in disguise as both Kishan and Rahul were included in the playing XI.

With Rahul's sensational comeback knock and Kishan performing well, the selection, especially for the No. 4 spot, becomes interesting once Iyer is fit. Former India coach and opening batsman, Anshuman Gaekwad, looked at Rahul's opportunity as a "blessing in disguise."

Gaekwad, a former India selector, told moneycontrol.com on Monday evening: "Rahul is a good player, no question about that. As he went on batting, he was not tentative, and that was a good sign. Perhaps, the break has done him a world of good. India required him badly at that number. It is a great sign for the Indian team as far as the World Cup is concerned." Gaekwad also addressed Rahul's wicketkeeping issues. "I don't see any problem with his wicketkeeping.

Going by his running between the wickets and the fitness he showed, keeping wickets for Rahul should not be a problem," Gaekwad said. As it happened, Rahul took over the wicketkeeping duties after six overs of Pakistan's run chase and went about his role without any incident till rain interrupted five overs later.

Gaekwad added: "If Rahul is batting at No. 4, then keeping should not be a problem. It could be an issue if he has to open after keeping wickets for 50 overs or open immediately after keeping for 50 overs. If I were the coach and the World Cup approaching, I would give Rahul the chance to keep wickets and be that No. 4 batsman."

Former India all-rounder and a national selector not long ago, Sunil Joshi, said that Rahul's place in the Indian team's playing XI should never be a point of contention. Joshi told moneycontrol.com that Rahul has answered a lot of the former players and critics for the doubts they had on his return to the side.

Joshi said: "We all know Rahul's numbers in the positions from one to five in the batting order and what he is capable of doing. It was only a matter of his fitness. Looking at the way he has progressed, everyone was sure he was going to regain fitness.

There should not be any discussion on whether Rahul should play or not. He just walks into the playing XI. If Iyer comes back, which he will at some stage, there should not be any contention between Rahul and Iyer. It should be between Iyer and Ishan Kishan.

If you want a left-handed batsman, you can always have one. For Rahul's position, there should not be any contention. He has earned his position there. Look at the way he ran between the wickets with Virat. That itself shows his fitness. Virat and Rahul ran 76 singles and 21 twos. That itself makes the case for Rahul. Rahul's knock on Monday was an ideal preparation for the World Cup."

With Rahul proving himself with the bat and the team management certain to give him more opportunities behind the wickets, it becomes an interesting situation once Iyer is fit to play. And don't forget, Suryakumar Yadav is still warming the bench. A good headache to have for the Indian think-tank, isn't it?