Former cricketer Irfan Pathan was disappointed with Team India opener KL Rahul’s dismissal in the first Test of the five-match series against England at Headingley. Pathan said that Rahul had settled in well before playing an uncharacteristic, flashy shot that led to his dismissal in the first innings.
India played well on the opening day of the match in Leeds on Friday, June 20. After being asked to bat first, the visitors took control of the game by posting a total of 359-3 in 85 overs. Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Shubman Gill smashed centuries, while the England bowlers struggled to take wickets.
During a discussion on Sony Sports, Irfan Pathan raised concerns over KL Rahul’s dismissal. Pathan said that India hadn’t had such a solid opening stand at the venue in nearly four decades. However, he criticized Rahul for playing an unnecessarily aggressive shot.
"The Indian openers added more than 50 runs in Headingley for the first time in 39 years. So, India wouldn't have expected a better start than that. However, the two wickets that fell (in the first session), I will be slightly more disappointed with KL Rahul because playing flashy shots is not his strength," Irfan Pathan said, as quoted by Sportskeeda.
KL Rahul scored 42 runs off 78 balls, hitting eight boundaries. However, he failed to convert his start into a big innings, edging a full, swinging delivery from Brydon Carse to Joe Root at first slip.
You Had Made the Ball Old, and Downed Their Spirits - Irfan Pathan
Irfan Pathan said that Rahul played risky shots despite being well-set at the crease. He pointed out that Rahul had done the hard work of softening the ball. Pathan felt that the Karnataka batter’s dismissal was avoidable and disappointing.
"He played flashy shots twice or thrice, the ball went in the air, and he could have gotten out there. When the wicket fell, you had gotten set by then. You had already stitched together a 91-run partnership, you had made the ball old, and downed their spirits," Pathan added.
His Foot Didn't Go That Far Forward - RP Singh on KL Rahul’s Dismissal
Former India pacer RP Singh also shared his thoughts on KL Rahul’s dismissal. Singh noted that Rahul had been timing the ball well with elegant drives but misjudged the delivery that got him out. He said that the batter did not move his foot far enough forward to reach the pitch of the ball.
"It seemed like he was knocking, as though someone was bowling underarm, and he was just timing them. That's why whenever he had to take a small stride close to the off-stump, he timed the ball well, but this ball was slightly away, and his foot didn't go that far forward," he said.
"As Irfan was discussing, he played a flashy shot that went over point. The partnership was good, but in Test matches, you feel you should dominate when you are in total control, and at times, some balls come where you feel you erred. Greed is a bad thing," Singh observed.
Debutant Sai Sudharsan perished for a four-ball duck right after KL Rahul's wicket. Shubman Gill formed crucial century partnerships with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant, who remained unbeaten on 65 off 102 balls, to guide India into a strong and commanding position.
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