England vs India: Has IPL impacted KL Rahul's game?
KL Rahul has been in phenomenal touch, in T20s, this season. The Bengaluru boy was one of the best performers of the Indian Premier League 2018 where he amassed runs consistently for Kings XI Punjab. A lot was expected from the rising star in Test cricket as well. Chances have knocked his window, but outside the subcontinent, his form has been worrisome.
Rahul fails for the third time against England
Rahul failed in the first Test against England at Edgbaston with scores of 4 and 13, as India went on to lose the match by 31 runs. In the second Test at Lord's, Rahul was sent to open the innings and he failed yet again. Rahul was caught behind by Jonny Bairstow off James Anderson's bowling as India were pegged back at 11/2.
Rahul's dismissals present a worrying sign
When Rahul came out to bat at Edgbaston, he hit the first ball for a four. The next ball he chased a wide one and it ended up crashing on to his stumps. In the second innings, he was squared up against Ben Stokes as he offered a regulation catch. At Lord's, Anderson's length delivery got him. All these dismissals portray a gloomy picture.
Is Rahul only a limited-overs specialist?
Players like Rohit Sharma and Yuvraj Singh have been extraordinary in ODIs and T20Is, but never got going in Test cricket. Outside the subcontinent, they couldn't handle the swinging conditions. Rahul's application shows that he is, unfortunately, following their footsteps. Given his performances in both South Africa and England, he needs to handle several issues before he can cement his place in Test squad.
What next for Rahul in Tests?
The right-handed batsman was selected ahead of Cheteshwar Pujara in the 1st Test. At Lord's, he opened the innings as Shikhar Dhawan was dropped. So far in three innings he has 25 runs. India are in for another 3 Tests here. Rahul will get the chances, but what if he keeps failing? It could prevent his selection for the Tests against Australia in 2018-19.
Limited-overs format has affected Rahul's Test approach
The T20 playing Rahul is one of the best batsmen in the world. But has that attacking mode impacted his game? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Rahul needs to go back to basics if he needs to perform in the longest format.
