As India gears up for the Test series opener against South Africa, the spotlight is on the wicketkeeper slot, particularly with Ishan Kishan withdrawing due to personal reasons. Head coach Rahul Dravid has strongly hinted that KL Rahul might take on the gloves during the Boxing Day Test at SuperSport Park on December 26.
In the pre-series press conference, Dravid expressed enthusiasm about the challenge, stating, "It’s an exciting challenge and it’s an opportunity for him to certainly do something different. Obviously with Ishan (Kishan) not being available, the opportunity came up. We have a couple of keepers we can choose from. Rahul is certainly one. We have had this discussion with him and he’s very confident. He’s very keen on giving it a go.”
Should Rahul assume the wicketkeeping duties, it will be only the second time in a first-class match. Although India has another wicketkeeper-batter in KS Bharat, who played five Tests this year, Dravid's words suggest that Rahul is likely to don the gloves at Centurion.
Dravid cited Rahul's recent success in ODI cricket as a wicketkeeper-batsman, instilling confidence in the team's decision. Despite acknowledging the challenges of balancing keeping duties with batting in a full day, Dravid highlighted Rahul's preparation over the last few months. The coach also noted that the conditions in South Africa favor more pace bowling than spin, which could ease Rahul into the wicketkeeping role.
The series against South Africa holds significance for India as they aim for their first-ever Test series victory in the country. Dravid reflected on India's past performances in South Africa, emphasizing the need to start the series well, given its brevity. He acknowledged the team's past close calls and expressed the desire to play well in both Tests to secure a series win.
With the Test series marking India's return to the format after a five-month hiatus, Dravid highlighted the challenges of variable bounce and the importance of preventing quick wicket falls. He emphasized the need for batsmen to adapt to the conditions, showcasing resilience and building partnerships to post substantial runs and secure crucial World Test Championship points.
(With Agency Inputs)
