On Friday, Rahul addressed some of the doubts surrounding his wicketkeeping as he spent nearly 45 minutes behind the stumps during the practice session.
While Rahul has been showing smooth batting form during match simulations and net sessions, his wicket-keeping skills have remained a big point of discussion. Rahul’s intense net-keeping exercise could also have improved his chances of being included in India’s playing 11 for the Super 4 match against Pakistan on Sunday.
Rahul last played for India in an ODI match against Australia in Chennai in March this year.
Going through various scenarios of a match was the focus of Rahul’s training at the Premadasa Stadium on Friday.
The training began with Rahul standing in front of the stumps while two support staff did the duties of batsman and bowler, a simulation of keeping tabs on the spinners.
Rahul was given a test on how to pick up the ball outside off stump and the 31-year-old also managed to crouch throughout the training without much discomfort.
It could have given the team management a vivid omen about Rahul’s recovery from a problem that was independent of the right thigh injury that required surgery and rehabilitation.
Rahul soon shifted his focus to picking up the ball on the leg side as the support staff aimed their shots in that direction.
Rahul passed the test without much difficulty and slid down the leg to collect the balls.
The drill followed an evaluation to test his ability to hit stumps, and then Kuldeep Yadav batted while Rahul’s preparedness to defend against a left-handed batsman was also tested.
Despite clear indications of his readiness, the team management will have to think deeply about giving Rahul a place in the 11th.
In the absence of Rahul, Ishan Kishan has been playing the role of wicketkeeper-batsman.
Kishan made four half-centuries in as many matches – three against the West Indies and one against Pakistan – to impress everyone.
The left-hander from Jharkhand also showed encouraging adaptability in the interim. Kishan batted at his preferred opening slot against the Windies.
But the management asked him to bat at number 5 against Pakistan in the Asia Cup league match, and Kishan produced a composed 82 off 81 balls.
The management might be tempted to continue with Kishan, but Rahul’s return might have initiated a change in mindset.
In the past, players have also been seen returning directly to the eleven after recovering, the latest example being Shreyas Iyer.
The Mumbaikar, who returned to the Indian team during the match against Pakistan in Pallekele after a 6-month break, was given the number 4 slot, his chosen position.
Meanwhile, Sanju Samson, who was the traveling reserve, returned to India after Rahul joined the team here.
Pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who was absent from the Asia Cup league match against Nepal to be with his wife for the birth of their first child, also rejoined the team and sweated in the nets.
(With input from PTI)
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