India’s coach Rahul Dravid with skipper Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul throughout a follow session forward of the primary Test cricket match between India and South Africa, in Centurion, South Africa, on December 24, 2023.
| Photo Credit: PTI
KL Rahul has at all times been assured about keeping wickets in Tests and the upcoming collection towards South Africa will give India’s new gloveman a chance to do one thing totally different, head coach Rahul Dravid mentioned on Sunday.
With KS Bharat having been discovered technically inept by way of batting skills in conventional format, Indian group administration’s different choice was Ishan Kishan, who determined to take a ‘mental health’ break.
In that sense, Rahul wasn’t simply the only option amongst the troika however he was additionally the one viable choice in a strain state of affairs and on the pacer-friendly tracks right here.
“I see it as an exciting challenge, an opportunity for him to certainly do something different. Obviously, with Ishan not being available this opportunity came up, we had a couple of keepers to choose from and Rahul is one of them.
We had discussed with him and he was very confident and was keen on giving it a go,” Dravid mentioned throughout a media interplay.
While Dravid understood that the challenges of keeping in Tests was totally totally different however he trusted the guy Bengaluru man to do a very good job, having proven respectable skills within the 50-over model.
“We do understand it is not something he has done as often (keeping in Tests). But he has been doing it regularly in 50 overs cricket and that takes a lot out of your body. He has prepared well over the last five to six months, he has done a lot of keeping,” Dravid mentioned.
‘Rahul won’t have to hold a lot towards spin’
While Dravid defined the rationale behind opting Rahul as wicketkeeper, he additionally dropped trace that there gained’t be a lot spin bowling on this monitor successfully ruling out Ravichandran Ashwin as second spinner.
“This will be a new and exciting challenge for him. I guess one of the things is there’s not going to be that much spin bowling, so that will ease him into the role a little bit, something how it goes and pans out,” the coach mentioned.
Having Rahul as keeper additionally offers the group the cushion of an additional batter, which on this case is Shreyas Iyer. Had Kishan performed, one specialist batter amongst Rahul and Iyer would have needed to make manner for him.
“It’s really nice to have him for the option he provides us. His ability with the bat will be useful and he has kept in white ball cricket and the question is of transforming that into red ball cricket,” the coach added.
There is a forecast for heavy rains throughout the first two days and possibilities of moisture beneath the floor however Dravid was assured that his group has bowling depth to counter antagonistic circumstances.
“Look, you need to check out what happens on the match day. We still have another day left before the match starts. We need to see what’s in-front of us. What’s up there (sky) and what’s down there (pitch), you will only know on the match day,” the coach mentioned.
“We will take a decision but we have balance, if we want, we can play two spinners and three seamers and maybe four seamers. We have that depth and balance (in team) but you can’t control weather,” he sounded a tad bullish.
