Melbourne, Nov 6: KL Rahul’s batting number and current form will be keenly watched by the national selection committee as he gets ready to match his wares for India A against an Australia A line-up that will have seasoned Scott Boland in its ranks in the second unofficial Test match at the MCG starting Thursday.
Save Rahul, there isn’t a single player in the India A line-up, who has played a match at the iconic MCG, where India is supposed to play the Boxing Day Test once again starting December 26.
Having been dropped midway through the home Tests against New Zealand, the Indian selectors in consultation with the team management decided to send Rahul and reserve keeper Dhruv Jurel for the second ‘A’ Test before they link up with the senior team in Perth on November 11.
With Boland, one of Australia’s senior reserve pacers bustling in and hitting the deck, it will be a stern test for the likes of Abhimanyu Easwaran, Ruturaj Gaikwad, B Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal but Rahul will certainly get the maximum traction because of his chances of playing the high profile Border Gavaskar Trophy.
During the practice session at the MCG, Rahul did look in good touch With Easwaran and skipper Gaikwad set to open, it is expected that Rahul will bat at No. 5 or 6 in the India A set-up as that would be his batting position if he is selected in the playing XI at ay point during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. (PTI)
