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Hindustan Times
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
KL Rahul given no choice but to carry form throughout series, Manjrekar cites Pant's impact: ‘Can't be a one-ton wonder'
Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar feels that it's high time KL Rahul should realise his potential as he can not be a one-hundred wonder. With the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, Rahul has now assumed the role of the senior-most batter in India's Test line-up. The spotlight is firmly on him, and so is the weight of expectations. As one of the few experienced names in a relatively young batting order, Rahul is expected not just to deliver with the bat but also to provide stability, leadership, and guidance to the emerging talents around him. KL Rahul scored a century in the second innings of Headingley Test.(@BCCI X) Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant has reaffirmed his status as a key pillar in India's batting line-up. With twin centuries in the Leeds Test, the dynamic wicketkeeper-batter has once again proven his match-winning credentials. Manjrekar was impressed with Pant's consistency in the red-ball format, which he once again proved with twin centuries in a Test. He became the second wicketkeeper in cricket history to score twin centuries in a Test after Andy Flower. "I think he will because it seems like he enjoys batting in Test cricket. Any batter who gets two hundreds in a Test match, it takes a lot out of you mentally, not so much physically, getting a hundred in the first innings, and 48 hours later, you have the same kind of reserve to get another hundred. So that is a hallmark of an exceptional player," the former India batter said on Star Sports. Also Read | Rishabh Pant uninstalled WhatsApp, switched off his phone and punished himself after 'stupid stupid stupid' MCG shot 'KL Rahul cannot be a one-hundred wonder' Manjrekar emphasised the need for KL Rahul to deliver with greater consistency, especially during this transitional phase for Team India. He noted that while Rahul has the talent, he must avoid being the kind of player who scores just one standout century in a five-match series. Drawing a comparison to Pant's recent impactful performances, Manjrekar stressed that India needs Rahul to step up regularly and shoulder more responsibility as one of the senior batters. "Rishabh Pant enjoys Test matches. He has not got enough runs. So he is hungry. I see Pant carrying his form, but there is another senior batter in the team, who now has got no choice but to carry his form right through the series. Indian cricket needs him badly, and KL Rahul cannot be a one-hundred wonder or a one-Test-match performer," Manjrekar added.
India Today
24-06-2025
- Sport
- India Today
KL Rahul rediscovers his place with hundred as opener: Had forgotten my position
KL Rahul said that he is happy to have rediscovered his place with a hundred as an opener for the Indian team after floating around the batting order for a good part of the last few years. Rahul has seen himself being used in the middle order for India in Tests and made a return as an opener during the Border-Gavaskar Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Tests, Rahul was reinstated as the opener, a position in which he has hit eight hundreds and scored 2982 runs. Speaking at the press conference after the end of Day 4 of the first Test against England, Rahul said that he had forgotten about his position in the team and was happy taking up different roles for the vs IND 1st Test Day 4 Highlights The 33-year-old said that he was happy doing the job for the side as the opener."In the last couple of years, I've forgotten what my position is and what I am comfortable doing. I'm happy to be given different responsibilities and roles. It makes the game exciting and makes me want to challenge myself and train that much harder. I have quite enjoyed doing that."advertisement"The last couple of series, my role has been to open the batting. That is something that I did growing up and in my early career. I am happy that I am back doing that and I am happy that I am doing the job for the team," said Rahul.'You learn from mistakes'Rahul did make a few good starts during the BGT in Australia but failed to capitalise and score a big hundred. Similarly, in the Leeds Test, the Indian opener looked in full control during the first innings and scored 42 runs before a false shot led to his didn't make the same mistake in the second innings and cashed in on his fine start to score 137 runs. Rahul said that he was happy with the way he batted in Australia but was disappointed that he couldn't convert the said that he learnt from the mistakes and was looking to ensure he didn't waste his chances in England."It's always disappointing for a batter when you get starts and don't convert it and get a big score for the team. I was happy with how I batted in Australia, but very disappointed at the end of the series that I couldn't convert those starts. I had opportunities in every game."advertisement"In an ideal world, I'd have liked to turn all of those innings into big knocks, but that didn't happen. But that's how the game goes. Sometimes you get a good ball, sometimes you play a bad shot. You learn from the mistakes. So I wanted to make sure that once I get a start, I make it count and score as many runs as I can," said knock helped India set England a target of 371 runs to chase to win the Headingley Test.- EndsYou May Also Like
