Gargi Raut at The Oval
The final Test of the long and gruelling five-match Test series unfolds in a gripping fashion and there’s more happening behind the scenes than what meets the eye. At the end of Day 2, India is leading by 52 runs, and with three full days left, the match and even the series remains wide open. But amidst the cricketing subplots that define that high-stakes encounter, is a quiet leadership that is unfolding within the Indian camp.
KL Rahul has been one of the most consistent performers in this series, with only three innings where he scored less than 40 plus runs in the series. Apart from the opening position, Rahul has emerged as a key off-field figure in a moment of transition for the Indian Test team. With a young Shubman Gill leading the side, Rahul, off the field, has been reportedly urged to take on a more active leadership role in the team by someone who holds a key position in his personal life.
According to a close source, KL Rahul had a long and meaningful conversation with someone in his close circle, who is currently in London, that prompted the change that we see in Rahul on the field. Rahul, who is introverted, is someone who has often taken the backseat in team dynamics, often pushed up and down the order. But this time, he was told bluntly, with a raw captain at the helm and a big series on the line, he cannot afford to “fade into the background.”
Since the conversation, Rahul has taken a more vocal role in the field, and it is quite evident. He has been assisting Gill in field placements, supporting bowlers and even taking tactical decisions. His calm presence and experience seems to be anchoring a young, injury-hit Indian side navigating a challenging English tour.
Day 2 at The Oval was high drama; India were bundled out for 224 and many fans had already written the team off and didn’t expect a fightback. But throughout the series the team has proven everyone wrong time and again. England responded in true Bazball style, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett added 92 in under 13 overs. But a stunning comeback, led by Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, who then claimed four wickets apiece, restricted England to 247, a slender lead of 23.
Soon, India too found early momentum through Yashasvi Jaiswal. And even though Rahul fell for 7 after a patient start, he has proved that despite the critics and the naysayers believing that he was up to no good, he belongs in the team.
In their second innings, India found early momentum through Yashasvi Jaiswal’s stroke-filled fifty, while Rahul fell for 7 after a patient start. Sai Sudharsan was bowled by a beauty from Atkinson, triggering a feisty exchange between him and Duckett before bad light ended play.
As the sun sets on Day 2, this match, and series, is hanging in balance. But one thing is clear: KL Rahul is no longer just a senior player; he’s becoming a pillar of leadership in India’s evolving Test squad.
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