“When he has the license, you just see the class of KL Rahul” – Sanjay Manjrekar lauds flamboyant batter

Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar hailed KL Rahul after the fourth day’s play against Bangladesh at Green Park, Kanpur on Monday. Rahul scored a fine knock of 68 runs off just 43 balls with the help of seven fours and two sixes to put India in front.

The flamboyant batter was able to hit the ground running and added a crucial alliance of 87 runs with Virat Kohli. Rahul hasn’t been at his best in the recent past and his place in the team has been under scrutiny but he showed his class on Monday.

India declared at 285-9 on the penultimate day and Rahul played an instrumental role in taking the hosts to that score in 34.4 overs.

KL Rahul said on ESPN Cricinfo, “What you see with KL Rahul, in the two innings that he’s looked really good and he’s looked relaxed, they have been innings where he’s been asked to bat quickly – where India had to score runs quickly. That actually seems to just help KL Rahul free up his mind. And I guess, in many ways, when you look at KL Rahul, even in the IPL or any other format, when he has to think for himself and chart the course, then maybe he finds himself a little outside his comfort zone.

“So, when he has the license, where there is only a one-point agenda, like today, and even in that second innings [in Chennai], although, it was a brief innings, you just see the class of KL Rahul – the shots that he plays. He must be the best reverse-sweeper that India has got. Loved his commitment to the team cause,” the 59-year-old went on to add.

Meanwhile, Rahul had trudged to 16 runs off 52 balls in the first innings of the opening Test at Chennai. However, he scored an unbeaten 22 off 19 balls in the second essay at Chepauk.

This 68-run knock must have added a lot of confidence to Rahul’s bag and he would look to continue the good show.