As the Indian team is preparing for the second Test against Bangladesh at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur, all eyes are on KL Rahul, who is struggling to make his place in red ball cricket after being injured for a long time. Are. With an average around 35 and consistent poor performances, Rahul's recent form has raised questions about his place in the team.
However, Indian batting coach Abhishek Nair is optimistic about the veteran batsman's return to form. Nair, speaking ahead of the crucial second Test, acknowledged Rahul's recent challenges but stressed the importance of supporting the players through tough times.
“We all know what kind of player Rahul is,” Nair said in the pre-match press conference on Thursday. He has experience and talent, but every cricketer goes through periods when things don't go well. At times like these, our role as a coaching team becomes important – to help them move forward, get that spark back.”
Rahul scored 37 runs off 111 balls in the opening session in his only innings of the Duleep Trophy. He was criticized for his lack of decisiveness at crucial junctures and his reluctance to use aggressive strokes. People raised questions about his hesitation in moving the scoreboard. His innings of 57 off 121 balls in the second innings was partly an improvement on his performance, as his main responsibility was to hold the wicket amid a batting collapse; Losing your wicket while trying to be aggressive while chasing a challenging target of 276 runs would have been disastrous.
“When you are playing for India, there is no need for motivation. Sometimes it's just a matter of direction and I think KL has spent some time with him in the last few days. He is a player who understands his game very well. Yes, there are times when a player finds his feet. I think when he was there in South Africa, he played brilliant innings for India.
“So we are very hopeful with the addition of Gautam (Gambhir) and I have (discussed) with him that hopefully we will be able to bring a change in KL as well. These things sometimes take time. But I think the way he has been batting, even in the last match, I know we did not give him many chances in the second innings. But the way he was batting in the second innings, we are expecting the same kind of cricket from him. And I am sure you will see expectations and performance from him going forward.”
However, Rahul struggled further in the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai, when he did not look comfortable in the middle. Following the collapse of India's top order, the 32-year-old came in at a time when the team needed a solid partnership. He scored 16 runs facing 52 balls. Fans and pundits questioned his thinking and batting strategy in high-pressure situations, as he lacked determination and failed to take advantage of the situation.
As India approach the Kanpur Test, team selection will be heavily influenced by unpredictable pitch conditions. Nair confirmed that India will decide the playing XI based on game day factors, as two pitches have been prepared at Green Park – one with a black soil surface, which is expected to help the spinners, and the other with red soil. Wicket which can be helpful for fast bowlers in the beginning.
“Conditions will be a big factor in deciding the team combination. “Everyone is available and we will see how the pitch behaves before finalizing our team tomorrow,” Nair said. The coach also considered the broader leadership structure within the team, highlighting the next generation of potential captains including Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant.
Nair said, “With players like Shubman and Rishabh, we have the potential to become ideal captains. His cricket mind is mature beyond his years. When young players are developing leadership qualities so quickly, we do not need a designated vice-captain.”
The weather remained cloudy in Kanpur on Thursday, a day before the Test match, with chances of rain in the first two days of the match. According to Accuweather, it will remain cloudy. On red clay pitches, India's squad for the Chennai Test included two spinners and three fast bowlers. The fast bowlers of both teams provided reasonable assistance in the game, which India won by 280 runs. However, a black soil pitch has been prepared in Kanpur. Initially it will prove helpful for the fast bowlers, but from the second day the role of spinners will become important. Less bounce is expected and as the track gets slower, the spinners will be helped.” Also, when India last played a Test match at Green Park, the spinners took 17 out of 19 wickets.
As a result, Kuldeep Yadav has a good chance to play on his home ground. He was also seen working hard during the practice session.
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