After his failure to replicate the success of Perth in Adelaide, there were growing calls of dropping K L Rahul back to No.6, but the Karnataka right-hander continued to enjoy the backing of the team management, and walked out as the opener at the Gabba.
India’s Test stalwart Cheteshwar Pujara has voiced his support for KL Rahul to retain his place at the top of the order, even suggesting that Rohit Sharma could move down to No.3 to accommodate him for the day-night Test at the Adelaide Oval, starting December 6.
Putting behind the batting blues of the opening day, India came back strongly to gain firm control over the Perth Test against Australia with openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and K L Rahul taking the first-innings lead of 46 - earned through a Jasprit Bumrah fifer - and stretched it past 200 by the end of the second day’s play at the Optus Stadium on Saturday.
In what comes as welcome news for India in their build-up to the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test starting on November 22, KL Rahul returned to batting during the team's training session at the WACA Stadium on Sunday.
Star batter K L Rahul was forced to retire hurt after being hit by a rising delivery from Prasidh Krishna during the team’s intra-squad match simulation at the WACA in Perth on Friday.
Most of these players should make the cut for the ICC T20 World Cup based on current form, but with the tournament still six months away and injuries and form being a part of the game, the selectors may prefer to wait and see rather than pass judgement based on IPL performances.
A quickfire fifty from Quinton de Kock (50 off 29) and a vital knock by Deepak Hooda (41 off 27) guided Lucknow Super Giants to 176-7 in 20 overs, after being invited to bat first.
He also has two centuries against Mumbai Indians and as many half-centuries. With Lucknow facing Kolkata Knight Riders at the MCA Stadium in Pune on Saturday.
It was not a great day at the office for DC bowlers as LSG batters smashed them all over the park. A 95-run stand between Rahul and Hooda troubled the opposition. Shardul Thakur was the only one who could offer some resistance against LSG, picking up all three wickets for DC.
Lucknow, who have won six matches so far, made one change in their playing XI as Krishnappa Gowtham came in place of Avesh Khan.
