New Delhi (Nilesh Tiwari), December 04: Since India’s captain Rohit Sharma was on paternity leave and the backup opener Abhimanyu Easwaran did not perform well in the Australian conditions, India’s versatile batsman KL Rahul took over the role of opening batsman for the Perth Test.
Rahul, who had been left out from the playing XI after the test match against New Zealand in Bengaluru, proved his value with his strategy. With the half-century in the second innings after being controversially dismissed in the first innings, he helped India conquer the mighty Australians. After a few days, because Rohit and Shubman Gill are expected to find space within the playing XI for the pink-ball Test match, now Rahul has not indicated as to whether he could or would bat.
KL Rahul addressed the press conference and spoke to the media in Adelaide, Australia:
On his batting position in the Adelaide test –
I know where I will be batting, but I am being told not to inform you.
On batting under lights, how he is getting ready for the pink ball test-
This will be my first experience with a pink ball game, so I don’t have as much experience as some of the other players who played against it. I discussed it with the boys who played with it and tried to find what was difficult for them. I have played in the practice match and found that it’s just a little different from the red ball, but in the manner you are able to see the ball properly and pick from the hand of the bowler. Hopefully, we have some practice left before the match starts, and I think we will get used to the pink ball.
Regarding his preferred batting position, is he comfortable opening or batting in the middle order?
I said this before: ‘I just want to be in the playing XI; fit me anywhere in the team; I want to play for the team.”.
India squad for Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25
Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar.
Travelling reserves: Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed.
Australia Squad for IND vs AUS 2nd Test in Adelaide:
Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Scott Boland.
