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Class Meets Consistency As KL Rahul Smoothens India’s Transition With Perfectly Timed Purple Patch

Debashis Sarangi

KL Rahul has oozed consistency on ENG tour [Source: AP]KL Rahul has oozed consistency on ENG tour [Source: AP]

A few days ago, my idle scrolling accidentally led me to a fascinating stat posted by one of my English mutuals on Twitter. It wasn’t an eye-opening out-of-the-box analysis, but I found it quite interesting as it shed light on the uncanny similarities between the Test records of KL Rahul and Ollie Pope. 

At a time when Rahul is considered one of India’s most elegant and dependable batters, Pope, with due respect, isn’t rated highly, even by the English cricket community. So, it was pretty natural for even a cricket geek like me to stumble upon their almost identical numbers in Test cricket. 

If someone watches KL Rahul bat for the first time, he or she simply can’t believe such an elegant player averages just over 35 across 61 Test matches. This is basically what the post conveyed, giving a mathematical expression to Rahul’s topsy-turvy Test career. 

Rahul Is Class Personified, But Numbers Don’t Lie

It’s been more than ten years since KL Rahul made his Test debut for India. Hailed as the next big thing from Karnataka, he had a stellar start to his career, making an instant impact with a valiant 262-ball 110 against a formidable Australian attack. 

However, his other scores in that series read 3, 1 and 16, as he finished the tour with 130 runs at an average of 32.5. One fine knock followed by a string of ordinary outings; such has been the case with KL Rahul ever since. 

A Test average of 35 after 61 matches only vindicates the above claim. Despite being well aware of his watertight technique and incredible stroke-playing ability, the Indian fans neither treat him like a demigod nor pin their hopes on him when the chips are down.

The reason behind Rahul carrying such a disrepute is his age-old knack for turning a potentially blockbuster tour into an ordinary one. There is seldom a Test series where he has entirely flopped with the bat; however, there haven’t been plenty of breakthrough tours either. 

Does The England Tour Announce The Arrival Of KL Rahul?

Fans were familiar with KL Rahul's flamboyance; however, the Test series against England has brought out the much sought-after consistent version. 

Those stoic defences, gorgeous drives and delicate cuts have added more essence and meaning to them, with Rahul converting promising starts into impactful knocks. 

The batter who averaged 28.62 in the last three years combined has raced to 336 runs, including two excellent tons, as of yet. With two more Tests remaining, any sane person would expect him to extend the purple patch and convince the Indian fans that he is someone they can bank on during a crisis. 

KL Rahul 2.0- India’s Skilful Warhorse In Transition

While the BCCI made Shubman Gill the face of India’s new generation by handing him over the reins, players like KL Rahul hold equal importance as they can guide the young team with their wisdom and experience. 

India will pretty much rely on Rahul, Jaiswal, Gill and Rishabh Pant to succeed with the bat in Test cricket until their middle-order remains a work in progress. 

Therefore, KL Rahul’s Test renaissance means a whole lot to India, as he can be one of their most durable pillars to form the foundation of a robust Test unit. His disciplined batting has started getting backed by solid numbers, steadily elevating his stature from a fickle to a flawless cricketer. 

Learn From History, Build Your Own Legacy

Someone like Murali Vijay doesn’t find a place among India’s 15 highest run-getters in Test cricket. However, the former opener from Tamil Nadu gets widely respected as fans acknowledge his invaluable contributions to Indian cricket during the challenging 2014-2017 transition phase. 

Vijay can be a perfect role model for Rahul, who has yet to build his legacy in Tests. No matter how elegant a batter is, it’s consistency that eventually matters. A player getting judged solely by his numbers has become the new norm, and it’ll be a shame if someone of Rahul’s calibre finishes off with an average less than 40 in Tests. 

Although his record doesn’t synchronise with his potential, KL Rahul’s Test career finally seems ready to take off. From the point where he stands at the moment, Rahul will solely decide if his name gets fondly remembered or fades away from the public memory.