Xtra Time Web Desk: When Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay walked down the crease at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town on the first day of the first Test match out of three against South Africa on 5th January 2018 putting up 46 runs on the score-board who could have imagined that in the next three years there would be a slew of changes in the opening partnership.
Since the 2017-18 series against the Proteas, India has had thirteen different opening partnerships, and Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul’s will be the fourteenth one in the upcoming three-test series in the rainbow nation. Men in blue are all set to face the Proteas beginning with the red ball from 26th December with Virat Kohli leading side and KL Rahul as skipper’s deputy.
The Shikhar-Murali opening test saw South Africa win over India by a petty 72 run margin. In the second of the same test series, it was KL Rahul who opened with Vijay, the duo put only a mere 46 runs opening partnership it was again the green caps won by a huge 132 runs. In the second innings of the final test match of that series wicket-keeper, Parthiv Patel joined hands with Vijay only to make 17 runs saw India win over Proteas by 63 runs.
During Afghanistan’s tour of India and India’s tour of England that year, the Dhawan-Murali duo scored a total of 237 runs in 2 test matches. In the 1st innings of the second test against Root and Co. KL Rahul went down to open with Vijay in which the latter walked back with 0 in his bag. The duo of Dhawan-Rahul scored 168 runs in 3 Tests against Englishmen. During the West Indies tour of India Rahul and Prithvi Shaw scored 139 runs in two tests. When men in blue were on their Australia tour Murali Vijay and KL Rahul scored only 72 runs in two tests against the five-time world champions.
Mayank Agarwwal and Hanuma Vihari in their opening stint managed 68 runs in one test in the Kangaroo nation. Against Australia and Windies Rahul and Mayank scored a total of 86 runs opening partnership in 3 tests. During 2019-20 on home soil against South Africa and Bangladesh Mayank and Rohit Sharma scored a humongous 415 runs in 4 tests. While Mayank become a constant for a brief period he partnered with Prithvi Shaw and scored 88 runs in 3 tests against Aussies and Kiwis, 16 runs with the young blood Shubhman Gill against Australia. Hitman partnered with Gill and together put up 424 runs in 7 tests against the five times world champion, England and in WTC final. In October this year during India’s tour of England Sharma and KL Rahul united for all 4 test matches scoring 424 runs. Against the black cap last month each time Mayank united with Gill scored 103 runs and with Pujara 107 runs that saw India clinch a thumping victory in the series.
All eyes are now set on Mayank and KL Rahul as they are 14th opening partnership in the impending test series against Elgar and co., since 2018. The 2019 semi-finalists will definitely pursue for their maiden test series victory in the rainbow nation.