India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate expressed confidence in KL Rahul’s current form, despite his low scores in the Bengaluru Test. Rahul had a challenging outing in the match and was unable to make a significant impact with the bat.
In Brief
* Rahul scored 0 and 12 in the Bengaluru Test.
* Ten Doeschate supported Rahul, stating he is batting well.
* According to Ten Doeschate, India faces a challenge fitting seven batters into six spots for the Pune Test.
India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has stated that there are currently no concerns regarding KL Rahul’s form, although he acknowledged the intense competition for places within the team. Rahul struggled significantly in the Bengaluru Test, scoring a duck in the first innings and just 12 in the second.
Meanwhile, Sarfaraz Khan, who stepped in for Shubman Gill, made an impressive 150. With Gill expected to recover from his neck injury and be available for the Pune Test, Rahul’s position in the lineup is in jeopardy. Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Ten Doeschate noted the competition for a middle-order spot and mentioned that he had a conversation with Rahul after the Bengaluru Test.
The assistant coach of India stated that Rahul didn’t miss any shots during the match, attributing his dismissals to a lack of runs rather than technical issues. Ten Doeschate emphasized that Rahul is currently batting well and is in a positive mental state.
However, the assistant coach for India mentioned that they need to fit seven batters into six spots and will make a decision based on the conditions in Pune.
“There’s competition for a spot. Sarfaraz was exceptional in the last Test. After the match, I approached KL Rahul and asked, ‘How many balls did you play and miss?’ He replied that he didn’t miss a single ball. That’s often what happens when you’re not scoring runs.”
“He faced two balls in the game: one down the leg side and another that he managed to edge. So there are definitely no concerns about KL. He’s batting well and is in a good mental space. However, we do need to fit seven players into six spots for this Test. We’ll assess the pitch and determine what will be best for the team,” said Ten Doeschate.
India and New Zealand will clash in the Pune Test starting October 24.
