Rahul got a well-deserved break with Team India at the MCG.
© AFP
Lokesh Rahul was handed his maiden Test cap after India decided to drop an under-performing Rohit Sharma from the Boxing Day test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The talented 22-year-old from Karnataka is slotted to bat at No. six, an important position in a currently wobbly Indian middle order. Lokesh Rahul was handed his Test cap by Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni as India made two changes for this crucial clash. (Scorecard | Highlights )
Rahul had slammed twin tons for South Zone in the Duleep Trophy final against Central, sending out a timely reminder to the national selectors as they met to pick the Test squad for the Australia tour in early November. It was an apt reward for a man who was the second-highest run scorer in 2013-14, with 1158 runs at 52.63. Rahul played crucial knocks as Karnataka won the Ranji Trophy title last season. (Watson Rues Missed Chance at MCG )
Rahul has been striking the right chords for four years since making his first-class debut. He averages an impressive 51.21, having amassed 2100 runs from 27 matches. The icing on the cake were his two innings in the Duleep final at Feroz Shah Kotla as national selectors Vikram Rathour and Saba Karim watched from the stands. Rahul immediately got a thumbs up from his namesake, Rahul Dravid, who wanted the youngster in the India Test squad as the third opener.
Up against the likes of Pankaj Singh, Ishwar Pandey, Piyush Chawla and Jalaj Saxena, Rahul slammed 185 and 130 to rightfully stake a claim in the Indian side for what will undoubtedly be a tough tour. (Watson's knock impresses Chris Rogers )
Dravid had watched Rahul come up the ranks closely. The former India captain has spoken highly of Karnataka's latest run-machine and felt he deserved a break in the Indian team, especially on the tough Aussie tour. Much like Dravid, Rahul likes to build his innings. The comparisons with Dravid after his consistent performances, especially over the last season, were inevitable. Rahul rattled up over 1000 runs and showed time and again his ability to wage lonely wars, even as his more experienced state mates struggled.
The stylish Bangalore batsman was originally selected as a reserve opener but Rohit's continued flop show opened up a slot in the middle order. Rahul won't be complaining and like he said before India set sail Down Under, he was ready. (Shami Plans to Send Australia Packing Early on Day 2 )
"I am very confident and I have been batting well," the opener said. "Hopefully, I can continue with the same form (from domestic cricket) and confidence when I get a chance in international cricket as well. I am watching the ball really well, I am moving well in the crease which is a big positive for me. I am very confident while batting, so I am hoping to continue in the same vein," Rahul had said.
Rahul could be called upon to play a crucial role in his very first match for India if the top order wobbles against a classy Australian attack. Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon will be a far cry from anything Rahul has ever faced. Will he up for the challenge?
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