Had Steve Smith not spilt that sitter from KL Rahul at second slip off Pat Cummins’ delivery early on Tuesday, India would have been in a precarious position in the ongoing third Test in Brisbane.
That dropped chance off the very first ball of Day IV at the Gabba was massive in terms of diminishing Australia’s chances of enforcing a result in this rain-hit Test. However, that takes no credit away from the innings of 84 that KL Rahul composed in a seriously tough situation.
Precisely, that poke outside off stump off Cummins was one rare error from Rahul’s bat in his 139-ball stay at the crease which went a fair distance in enabling India to avoid the follow-on. He had also copped a blow on his right hand after a delivery bounced awkwardly. Mentally, these could well have rattled Rahul, but he looked more solid and composed thereafter.
With his head still, he played close to the body presenting a soft bottom hand, while his eyes were right on top of the ball, something Sunil Gavaskar pointed out. In Test matches, it’s equally important to leave balls,
especially when they are pitched on the corridor of uncertainty. Rahul ensured he did exactly so.
Not even once was he seen to chase a delivery on the fourth or fifth-stump line, something some of his batting colleagues also need to do. It was only a blinder of a catch from Smith at slip that helped Australia get rid of Rahul.
Not just his solid defence at the top, but not falling in that intent trap, unlike his colleagues, also played a role in Rahul becoming the second-highest run-getter (231) after Travis Head so far in this Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Rahul has also faced the
most number of balls (463) so far in this series followed by Head (415).
“It’s just about getting through those first 20-30 balls... The only thing you can do in the first 30 overs is to tighten up your defence, try and respect that the first 30 overs is the bowlers’ time and give them their time, leave balls, try and play as tight as possible, and then really try to cash in once the ball gets older. So that’s my plan,” Rahul said.
“The way KL has played so far in this series, he has been better in technique by a mile than the other Indian batsmen. In Test cricket, one of the best ways to show intent is being solid in defence, which is the basic requirement. KL has done quite well that way,” former national selector Devang Gandhi told The Telegraph.
Jadeja’s support
Subjected to a fair bit of criticism for being expensive with the ball (0/95 in 23 ov ers), all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja ensured he compensated with the bat as his 77 was also significant in keeping the Australian bowlers at bay. The pressure was double on Jadeja as he arrived at the crease when India were reeling at 74/5.
Along with his experience, Jadeja’s grit and determination were also at play which helped him complement Rahul during their 67-run sixth-wicket stand and later forge a crucial partnership of 53 with Nitish Kumar Reddy. India were still 33 short of saving the follow-on when Jadeja perished, but the time he spent at the crease was invaluable.
