KL Rahul, with his talent and temperament coupled with few hits and misses, has been one of the biggest mysteries in Indian cricket in the recent past.
He looks a million-dollar everytime he walks out to the field, play a few promising strokes and then gets out. In today's match, when the rest of the batsmen filled their shoes with half-centuries, Rahul walked away with only three runs against his name.
He drove rather loosely to a pitched-up ball and offered a tame catch to mid-off. This irked the batting coach Sanjay Bangar, who said that the right-hander keeps finding new ways to get out.
"He is not a young player anymore and he is on his second tour here. He has played 30 Tests and he has a responsibility. We expect him to play with that responsibility and play his role for the team," Bangar told the media in Sydney.
Describing his dismissal in Sydney, Bangar said that it was a pretty loose stroke considering the conditions and the ball which was bowled.
'One hit away from finding form'
"He (Rahul) has been looking in good shape, including today. It is just that he is finding new ways to get out. Even today, the ball was quite afar when he played it away from his body and lost his wicket. But what we are reading he is playing the ball well and he is one hit away (from form)," he added.
The batting coach made it clear that the opening slot and the number 6 position is still up for grabs and the management will take a call on the day of the first Test match.
"There are certain spots to be taken still. We are looking at the opening slot as well as the number six slot. Those are the positions we are still looking at, we have not decided yet," he added.
Prithvi Shaw, who was impressive in the first innings, has all but sealed one spot at the top and it remains to be seen how Murali Vijay fares in the second innings.
"He has made a mark straightaway in whichever format he has played limited overs or first-class cricket, Irani Trophy, Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy or India A. He has shown he can adapt to the conditions and to the stage as well," Bangar said.
