NEW DELHI: Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has lavished praise on opener KL Rahul, crediting a subtle technical tweak as the key behind the right-hander’s run-rich form in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship series against England. With 375 runs from three Tests — including two centuries and a half-century — Rahul has been one of India’s standout performers and sits fourth on the list of top run-getters in the series so far.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Speaking on The ICC Review with Sanjana Ganesan, Shastri acknowledged Rahul’s immense potential and stated that fans were frustrated in the past not because of his lack of talent, but because he wasn’t delivering consistently.
“I think there was not one person in the world who denied his potential and said that he [Rahul] was not talented,” Shastri said. “What annoyed people was, with that kind of talent, he was not delivering. And in this series, you’re seeing the best of Rahul.”
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Shastri pointed out that a small adjustment in Rahul’s front-foot stance has unlocked greater consistency and technical assurance. “What I am seeing is a slight adjustment he’s made with his front foot, in his stance and while defending,” he explained. “It just opened up a bit, which allows his bat to come through cleanly. Even when he’s hitting it towards mid-wicket, it’s the full face of the blade.”The tweak has helped Rahul avoid past pitfalls — especially falling over and getting trapped leg-before or bowled. “He doesn’t need to close the face of the blade and fall over and get into trouble like he used to in the past,” Shastri added.
With four centuries now in Tests in England — joint second most by an Indian after Rahul Dravid (six) — Rahul, at 33, is entering a critical phase of his Test career.“He’s at his prime. He has got to make these next three, four years count,” said Shastri. “I see him getting a lot of hundreds… that average should be close to 50.”
