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'Great In Slip Cordon' - India's Fielding Coach Likens KL Rahul To Aussie Great Mark Waugh

KL Rahul grabs a stunner against Bangladesh in first Test match (BCCI)KL Rahul grabs a stunner against Bangladesh in first Test match (BCCI)

India’s fielding coach, T. Dilip, recently compared KL Rahul’s stunning catches in the first Test against Bangladesh to Australian great Mark Waugh’s technique, which made him a popular and successful fielder in the slip cordon.

Mark Waugh, with over 16,000 international runs, was once Australia’s leading batter and a consistent match-winner. However, besides the batting success, Waugh earned high praise for his fielding skills.

He has a total of 289 catches, thus making him the third most successful fielder in international cricket. Mark Waugh’s precision and impeccable technique at slip cordon was unmatched.

KL Rahul Receives High Praise From Fielding Coach!

Drawing a resemblance to the greatness of Mark Waugh, India’s fielding coach, T. Dilip, likened KL Rahul’s catching technique to that of the former Aussie. While Rahul failed to deliver with the bat in the first Test against Bangladesh, his fielding was impeccable, and his catch at second slip to dismiss Mushfiqur Rahim drew immediate comparisons to Waugh.

"The best part of this catch was that KL was following with his hands. Nice, soft hands to finish it but by the time it is taken, you can see he literally finishes behind his body. If you keep having the proper position where you either open up the hips or slightly open the toe, it helps follow the ball even if it's slightly behind. And that was the technique you see the great Mark Waugh used to do," coach Dilip said.

Rahul also impressed in the second innings, taking another catch to dismiss Rahim, this time at mid-on. Charging forward, Rahul dived to grab the ball just inches off the ground. 

"Great in the slip cordon but also at mid-on, he showed that he is terrifically composed at the way he went for that catch because it was really dipping right in front of him, and to have that awareness to get his fingers underneath the ball and getting his timing right in coming down. With his height, I think it was a terrific catch to look at," he added.

This catch marked Rahul’s 150th in international cricket, and Dilip praised Rahul’s awareness and timing, noting that his height and agility were key factors in completing the challenging catch. 

Ravi Shastri Warns KL Rahul To Switch His Approach

Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri recently emphasised that KL Rahul must adopt a more aggressive mindset to maximise his potential in Test cricket. 

While commentating during the Test match against Bangladesh in Chennai, Shastri highlighted Rahul’s struggle to consistently perform at his best.

Notably, returning to the Test team after an injury, KL Rahul’s recent performance raised concerns, as he scored just 16 runs in the first innings and remained unbeaten on 22 in the second.