'It's A Different KL Rahul' - Sunny Gavaskar Lauds India's Comeback Man 

image-lqnd3kqsKL Rahul produced a gritty knock on Day 1 in Centurion (Twitter)

Sunil Gavaskar was effusive in praise for KL Rahul as India's comeback man produced a gritty and defiant knock of 70 not out to keep the tourists alive by the close of Day 1 in the Boxing Day Test versus South Africa in Centurion on Tuesday (December 26). 

As Rahul made a valiant return to the Test squad as a wicketkeeper-batter, Gavaskar lauded the Karnataka lad for his resilient innings amidst a great phase of the 31-year-old's India career, which included him playing a terrific role with bat and gloves during the ICC World Cup 2023 as well. 

The batting legend said this is the Rahul that Indian cricket has been "yearning to see" as he finally sheds inner demons and imposes himself on opposition attacks whilst also bolstering his stocks behind the stumps. 

Rahul wouldn't even have been primed for a Test comeback if not for the vacancy created through incumbent Rishabh Pant's injury. Hence, it was a return based more on his rapid improvement as a wicketkeeper than batting performances, having last played any first-class cricket in February 2023. 


Gavaskar Praises KL Rahul 

There were naysayers as India's vote of confidence on Rahul's red-ball wicketkeeping prowess, with just one previous first-class game as keeper under his belt, got denounced by the traditionalists. However, the player vindicated the faith shown in him by the team management and the selectors. 

"We've known about his talent for such a long time, but we are getting to see it in the last eight, nine months, ever since he's come back from this horrific injury that he had in the IPL, it's a different Rahul," Gavaskar told Star Sports.

"It's a Rahul that we have been yearning to see for such a long time and such a delight to see. I said it in commentary as well that this half century to me, is as good as a century."

Gavaskar was mighty pleased to see Rahul making himself undroppable in Tests and ODIs after enduring a difficult period when he was out with a hamstring injury from May till August leading into the ICC World Cup 2023. 

"When you're out of the game for such a long time, the game that you love, the game that has given you everything, almost everything, you tend to get a different perspective, and that's precisely what he seems to have done." 

"And now, instead of looking at it as a chore, I think he's looking at it as a sport and to be enjoyed. I could be completely wrong, but this is the impression I get because there's so much positivity about his every movement. Earlier on, he used to seem a little bit lost. He's not lost now. He's there, very much there," Gavaskar added.