New Delhi: A ten-year work anniversary in the corporate world warrants a major celebration. The path of completing ten years in a career involves a multitude of dealing with tales of struggles and feeling the joy of victories coming through sheer perseverance and grit. When Thursday arrives, KL Rahul will be celebrating a ten-year work anniversary of his kind, but on the field when the Boxing Day Test against Australia begins at a packed Melbourne Cricket Ground, the same place where he made his debut as India Test cap no.
284 in 2014. Most people feel settled in their careers after ten years, but Rahul’s a different story. His Test career has travelled a wide musical range – from hitting high notes to being at low notes, while being inconsistent in between.
The stats back this up: 56 matches, 3216 runs, and a 34.58 average—figures frequently cited on social media, especially when he doesn’t score big runs. Previously, Rahul’s continued presence in the Test team baffled cricket fans, despite changes in captain, coach, and selection panels.
Yet, what makes Rahul a useful Test player is his success in overseas matches and his ability to adapt to any situation. Seven of his eight Test hundreds have come outside India. Six of them came outside Asia, and three of them came in a winning cause.
First-choice opener injured and want someone? Get Rahul in. Want a middle-order batter who can also keep if needed? Get Rahul in. Need a floater if someone from top three is unavail.