Before the India vs Netherlands game, India Cricket Team had a hectic day in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday. Rohit Sharma & Co had a photo shoot in the morning and then they came in for a practice session in the afternoon. But it was KL Rahul, who instead of taking up the willow, donned the big gloves. With throwdown specialists hurling balls at him, he had a unique session to keep wickets against Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja before IND vs NED World Cup warm-up clash on Tuesday.
KL Rahul was keeping wickets with a big tyre in front of him with fielding coach T Dilip giving him instructions. The reason? KL Rahul has struggled to keep wickets as he does not do it regularly. Against spin and slower deliveries that are pitched on the leg side, his lack of awareness gets exposed.
Why did KL Rahul use tyre?
The big tyre works as the shadow or a replacement of a batter during a match. The tyre blindsided him as a batter would do when Kuldeep Yadav’s deliveries pitch on the leg side only to turn in. Similarly, Ashwin and Jadeja could also turn it to the leg side and KL Rahul would have to carry those balls.
KL Rahul does not keep wickets regularly. But with Rishabh Pant absent, Team India can look to add an extra player if KL Rahul keeps wickets much like what Rahul Dravid did for India Cricket Team during his playing days. He provides that cushion.
However, since his return from injury, KL Rahul has regularly struggled against the spin of Kuldeep Yadav or the slower deliveries on the leg side of India’s pace battery. Hence, the unique keeping drill will help him practice such situations.
In the IND vs NED match on Tuesday, KL Rahul will keep wickets for the entire 50 overs. And it would be a good opportunity for him to learn from his mistakes.
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