Redemption and return: Rohit and Rahul have forged their legacies on England tour

Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul. Had anyone proposed their names as India’s opening partners, no one would have a lot to argue about it. In limited overs, they would add. However, in just one month, both the Indian batsmen have caused a complete reversal of the opinion on their Test batting skills. Against a quality attack, in helpful conditions, both the Indian openers have passed the test with flying colours.

Rohit’s redemption

There was never a doubt about Rohit Sharma’s batting talent. In fact, this very term ‘talent’ has been used to criticise him. While he raised tall records in limited-overs cricket, his Test batting calibre was still under question. Rohit made his Test debut in 2013 and was off to a stellar start. In his maiden innings, the right-hander smashed 177 against West Indies. In the following Test, he scored his second ton as he raced to 117 not out.

However, Rohit could not perform in the same vein on the away tours. His next eight Test matches were played outside Asia and the heavy-scorer could only muster two fifties. With other middle-order batsmen stepping up, Rohit failed to cement his spot in India’s Test XI. And then in 2018, it all changed for him.

The transformation of #RohitSharma into a world class opening batsman has been staggering. This century was inevitable given the way he has batted in this series. Privileged to see this. Class.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 4, 2021

Rohit’s revival in white-ball cricket began with his promotion to the top spot. The phenomenon repeated itself six years later. In 2019, India backed him as their Test opener and Rohit delivered. He scored four huge Test tons but all of them were in India. He was yet to prove himself in foreign conditions and so he did.

In the World Test Championship final against New Zealand, Rohit Sharma contributed in 30s. He fought the conditions and adapted himself technically to succeed in English conditions. Showing great resolve, the opener absorbed the pressure and displayed fantastic defence. His knocks of 83 at Lord’s, 59 in Leeds and 127 at The Oval left no choice for anyone but to applaud Rohit’s transformation in Test cricket.

Rahul’s return

KL Rahul’s Test journey has been erratic to say the best. He began his international career as a Test opener for India. It was after two years that he was picked in the limited-overs team. By the time he played for India in ODIs and T20Is, Rahul had struck three Test centuries and all of them were outside India. He was a phenomenon on the Indian pitches as well. In the 2017 Australia series at home, he struck five consecutive fifties. Rahul followed it up with three fifties in the next four innings against Sri Lanka.

In the next few years, Rahul showed glimpses of his batting ability in the longest format of the game but lost his consistency. His 149 at The Oval in 2018 was the only saving grace in an otherwise ordinary run of form. In the 2018 Australia tour, he fell for a single-digit score in four of five outings. The selectors had seen enough. Rahul was consigned to the limited-overs side where his role is still being shuffled but is a certainty in the side.

✍️ Writing his name into history for @BCCI.

A special day for @klrahul11 👏#LoveLords | #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/7qqgwCI2Ki

— Lord’s Cricket Ground (@HomeOfCricket) August 12, 2021

On this England tour, Rahul was selected primarily as a backup wicketkeeper-batsman with Wriddhiman Saha and Rishabh Pant fighting COVID-19 battles. Strengthening his case, Rahul scored 101 in India’s warm-up match against County XI. With Mayank Agarwal ruled out of the first Test, India had no other option than to open with Rahul. The Karnataka batsman grabbed the opportunity with both hands and scored a solid 84 against England at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.

At Lord’s, KL Rahul managed to get his name etched on the Honours Board with a scintillating 129. As India registered a 151-run triumph, Rahul was adjudged Player of the Match for his spectacular contribution. Coming in the side as a last-minute replacement, the opening batsman has cemented his spot in the toughest batting conditions for an Indian batsman.