KL Rahul’s struggles ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy continued, with another disappointing performance in the ongoing unofficial Test between India A and Australia A. Following a four-ball duck in the first innings, Rahul managed only 10 runs off 44 balls in his second outing. His dismissal, however, raised more questions than his score.
Facing Corey Rocchiccioli’s very first delivery, Rahul attempted a defensive manoeuvre that ultimately backfired. The ball, flighted and landed between middle and leg stumps, prompting Rahul to lean towards the on-side without offering a shot. Instead of playing at it, he seemingly hoped the ball would either miss his pads or spin past the stumps.
This indecisive approach proved costly, as the ball ricocheted off his left pad and clipped the bail, ending his stay at the crease. Rocchiccioli’s team erupted in celebration while Rahul could only walk back, visibly dejected.
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“Well, I just don’t know what he was thinking here!” remarked a commentator, echoing the sentiment of many watching. It was a curious reaction from an experienced player facing a crucial series build-up, particularly with mounting pressure for a solid performance.
“Don’t know what he was thinking!”
Oops… that’s an astonishing leave by KL Rahul 😱 #AUSAvINDA pic.twitter.com/e4uDPH1dzz
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 8, 2024
Earlier, India A’s bowlers had shown promise by restricting Australia A to just 223, thanks to a disciplined effort from the pace trio. The focus then shifted to India A’s batting unit to build on this momentum. Despite a promising start, familiar issues resurfaced, as the Indian batters struggled against Australia’s disciplined attack. Nathan McAndrew and Beau Webster each struck twice, reducing India A to a vulnerable 73/5 by the day’s end.
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Rahul’s back-to-back low scores in challenging conditions have raised concerns, especially with young talents pushing for opportunities in the upcoming series. The Indian team management will hope for a turnaround soon, as Rahul’s form remains crucial to India’s plans in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
